Katie McBride's Blog

It may not be autumn just yet, but pumpkin growing needs to be thought of far in advance of fall. Growing your own pumpkins is a great way to get kids involved in gardening and excited about the next season to come. There are many different types of pumpkins but let’s take a look at some basic information for successfully growing them: Planting: First off, the seed must be good in order to have a high success rate of growing pumpkins. Fresh seed is best found at local shops rather than big retailers that sell the seed in the small planter. Another successful way to grow pumpkins is to place rotten pumpkins into your garden or any other area and wait for them to start to grow the following year. As long as there are still seeds in those pumpkins and your soil is quality soil, they will start to grow without any work. With that said, the seed doesn’t need to be buried deep within the soil to grow, an inch or two under the soil is adequate. It’s best to make sure some soil covers the seeds so they do not freeze with the first winter frost or get washed away by rain. Location: This is an extremely important step in growing pumpkins. In any variety their vines can get very long, from anywhere between 20 to 30 feet in length. You will want to make sure you have enough space for the vines to grow without running into obstacles. Sun is also very significant for growth. Timing: When planting seed to grow your pumpkins you will want to wait until the weather is on the warmer side, when there will not be any more frosts. For New England, the beginning to middle of June is a great time to plant. Pumpkins take time to mature and grow. Refer to the seed packaging to find out exactly how long they need to mature. This will also help you to understand when to plant. If waiting for the old seeds from your previous pumpkins to sprout, this should begin to occur in late June. If it does not, then the seeds did not survive and you may want to consider purchasing new seed and planting immediately. Harvesting: You will know when it is time to harvest by the color of the pumpkins, the pumpkins’ surface feel and the condition of the vine. Pumpkins will be ready to harvest when they have turned their intended color. Pumpkins should also be hard before harvested. If the pumpkin can easily by indented by your finger, then they are not ready. Another indicator is that the vine will begin to wither and dry up. Best Practices: Pumpkin leaves are prone to fungal diseases. This occurs when the leaves come into contact with water. The pumpkins still need water to grow and mature but do your best to avoid contact with the leaves when watering. It will result in the leaves dying, potentially harming the entire vine. These steps and tips are meant to be simple but enough to get you growing your very own pumpkins. If successful, it sure will save you money when it comes time to decorating your home and carving with your kids. And who doesn’t want to grow the perfect pumpkin to carve into a scary jack-o-lantern or one with a funny face? Good luck and happy carving!

Believe it or not, your unfinished basement can make or break your home in the eyes of a prospective homebuyer. And ultimately, your basement may dictate whether a homebuyer makes an offer or considers other residences. An unfinished basement represents an opportunity for home sellers around the country. And those who devote the necessary time and resources to improve the quality of their homes' unfinished basements could reap the rewards of a fast sale. So what does it take to revitalize an unfinished basement? Here are three basement improvement tips that every home seller needs to know about: 1. Use floor mats. Your basement's concrete floor likely remains cold and unattractive. Fortunately, foam mats can help you add a splash of color and improve your basement floor's appearance instantly. Foam mats come in a variety of shapes and colors, ensuring you'll be able to find mats that fit your basement floor beautifully. Plus, these mats can help you showcase the true value of your unfinished basement to prospective homebuyers. Whether homebuyers want to use an unfinished basement as a workout area, a den or a workspace, you can leverage floor mats to create an awe-inspiring setting that helps transform a bland basement into an exceptional one. 2. Install storage. Want to show off the massive amount of space available in your home's unfinished basement? Installing shelves and using storage units to your advantage enables you to highlight how an unfinished basement can serve as a great storage area. From storing sports gear to tools and everything in between, your basement can serve as a one-of-a-kind storage space that enables you to keep excess items out of sight. And with the right storage units in place, you'll have no trouble showing prospective homebuyers what it's like to stay organized and maximize the space available in your unfinished basement. 3. Stop the moisture. Notice a wet, damp smell that lingers across your basement? Moisture likely is the culprit behind this odor. However, you can eliminate moisture and the associated smell by picking up a dehumidifier. With a dehumidifier, you will be able to eliminate moisture without delay. And in the event of moisture that causes leaks and puddles in your basement, you may need to consider weatherproofing your basement to keep moisture at bay consistently. When it comes to your unfinished basement, you'll want to do everything you can to ensure it serves as an asset – not a liability. But those who are committed to improving the quality of an unfinished basement can take the right steps to minimize moisture and its associated odor. Remember, your unfinished basement is an important part of your home. And even though your basement may be one of the final areas a prospective homebuyer examines, you'll want to make this space as attractive as possible. Enhance the quality of an unfinished basement to ensure this space can help you boost your home's attractiveness to prospective homebuyers. By doing so, you may be able to increase your residence's value and generate interest in your home from a wide range of homebuyers.