Newbie grows pumpkins near septic tank in south Texas... problems?

[Polexia owns your SOUL]

After carving pumpkins last October, I dumped the guts over the fence out back, thinking most of it would rot, some might be carried away by stray bird, etc...

Wrong. So. Very. WRONG. Big leaves started popping up in late march & early april. Now I have a hug curly vine that is definitely a pumpkin and several times it's tried to pollinate with those big yellow flowers. I don't know if any of them have, but if they all did, I'm going to have ten or so pumpkins on my hands.

I have THREE questions.

1 - Any particular things I should know about pumpkins or gourds? I don't have any experience in gardening, though I can water daily, and I've had good luck with an orchid and a cactus and green beans in little pots.

2 - The septic tank lid is about one foot away. (It's a rural neighborhood.) We've been having problems and icky things are happening - such as toilet paper bits floating to the top of the soil. GROSS. Yes, this is happening one foot away from my pumpkin. Probably right underneath it, too. Does anyone else think this will cause mutant walking pumpkins that will terrorize my neighborhood? And if it does, can I kill them, chop them up, and use them in pies still?

3 - Since I dumped the seeds over the fence, the main stank is right next to a pole holding up the pipe fence. Is that bad? Will the vines climb the fence?

 

[wer30snfun]

Well, the fact that the septic tank lid is nearby, does not mean that you will be getting any fertilizer from the tank. If the laterals are working properly, the actual waste should be getting distributed in the yard about 50 to 100 foot away or so.

Human fertilizer (poop) will not either harm or negatively affect the pumpkins. In fact, it is a great fertilizer. The problem is actually from the wind blowing and causing some of this "fertilizer" to end up on the pumpkins... so just wash it thoroughly before cutting it open.

Yes, the vines can climb the fence.

Last but not least, open the septic... if it is full, consider having it pumped out. Also, flush a box of Rid-X down your toilet once a month to help the septic perk properly, which may help with the toilet paper bits....

 

[Charles C]

Muppy is wrong. Pumpkins have male and female flowers on the same plant and are capable of self pollination.
Yes you can eat them or whatever you want. I would wash the outside before cutting, but I do that no matter where they are grow.