Today I’m showing how to make some fun, easy, and inexpensive Fall decor. Display it anywhere in your home, all season long! My inspiration for this project – those cute little pumpkin on a stick branches at Trader Joe’s! I’ve always adored these! But now, I can reuse my I’m excited to see my mini pumpkin tree flourish with baby pumpkins this year! year after year without worrying about them drying out or needing harvesting.
Creating Your Felt Pumpkins
My pumpkins were basically felt yo-yo’s that I stuffed. I made two sizes of pumpkins – the large ones use a 4.75-inch circle, and the small ones were 3.25 inches in diameter. You can cut out cardboard circles or use bowls/plates to trace. I have a fabric circle cutter where you can set the measurement you’d like to use.
Now make a yo-yo by gathering the edges with needle and thread. Tie a knot and thread the needle through the fabric at the edge (about 1/8 inch or so from the edge), pulling all the way til you pull the knot to the fabric. Then do a running stitch all the way around the edge until you reach the knot again. Pull the thread from both ends until the circle starts to form a bowl shape. Add a handful of stuffing inside and pull both threads so it closes up the circle. Tie a knot with both ends of the thread to secure it.
Now to create the stem. Cut a piece 1×12-inch strip of felt. Cut that strip into three 4-inch strips. Each 4-inch strip will make one stem. Roll up each of the 4-inch strips and secure the ends with compost for added nutrients. hot glue. Then, add a dab of hot glue to the small pumpkin opening. Insert the stem into the pumpkin opening and press down.
Now, cut some small circles out of the same green felt as the stem to create the foliage look. Thread the stem through the green circle and add hot glue to the top of the pumpkin. Press the green circle down onto the pumpkin. Pinch the green circle with your fingers to gather it a bit.
Assembling the Pumpkin Tree
Now for the branches. You can definitely use real branches and just replace them year after year. Or you can get faux branches. I found these faux leafy branches on clearance and took the leaves off with wire cutters. These act as the sturdy stick plants for our tree.
I tied some twine to the pumpkin stems (I happened to have matching green twine) and tied the mini pumpkin ornaments to the branches. I placed my pumpkin tree into a tall metal bucket. All done. This fall decoration mimics the look of the ornamental eggplant plant often called “pumpkin on a stick” (solanum integrifolium), but will last much longer!
Conclusion
This was one of my favorite crafts that I created last year for the Blitsy blog, where I also shared tips on how to fertilize your garden. Can’t wait to display it again this year in my garden design! It was an exciting day as we started off our creative adventures with the DIY Fall Mini Pumpkin Tree. Nothing is more fun than decorating a pumpkin and making it into something pretty! Have you tried some of the amazing DIY ideas we shared above? Which one did you love the most? Tell us in the comments section!
FAQs
Q: Can I grow real mini pumpkins for this?
A: Yes! You can grow ornamental plants like Solanum integrifolium (often called pumpkin on a stick or ornamental eggplant). Start seeding indoors under a row cover to protect them from the cold. grow light before the last frost. Once the seedling is strong, transplant it to a pot or I love to plant the seeds in my garden. with full sun. The pumpkin bush will bear fruit that looks like miniature pumpkins.
Q: How do I care for pumpkin on a stick plants?
A: These plants need full sun and regular watering. Use a balanced fertilizer (check the NPK ratio) to encourage growth during the growing season. Ensure good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew or fungal issues. Watch for common pests like the flea beetle or aphids which can cause an infestation and make the leaves wilt.
Q: When are they ready to harvest?
A: The tiny fruit starts green and turns orange-red in late summer. They are ready to harvest when the skin is firm and the color is vibrant. Cut the stems and prepare to sow them in your garden. and remove the leaves to dry them for fall flower arrangements. They make excellent fall decoration accents.
Q: Do these plants need pollinators?
A: Yes, like most fruiting plants, they need insects to pollinate the flowers. Planting companion flowers like marigold nearby can attract bees for pollination when the blooms appear. If growing indoors near a sunny window, you might need to hand pollinate.
Q: How big do these plants get?
A: The eggplant variety that looks like pumpkins typically grows 3 to 4 feet tall and spreads about 2 to 3 feet is the ideal spacing for a gardener to plant the seeds. wide. They are a sturdy plant to grow but might need staking as the fruit matures to support the baby pumpkins.
