[No. 369] Spreading Vines, Spreading Summer—The Vigor of the Field Taught by Pumpkins 🎃🌿

With the arrival of the rainy season, the scenery of the field has suddenly taken on a summer look.

Every time it rains, the weeds gain momentum, and before I know it, everything is covered in green.

In the midst of this, the pumpkins are growing with an equally unstoppable force.

Spreading their large leaves and extending their vines further and further, they are increasing their presence in the field.

Plant growth is truly fast.

Where there was nothing yesterday, today the vines are stretching out.

Being able to enjoy such changes is something unique to this season.

📖 Articles themed around the field are compiled in a magazine.
Please take a look at these as well if you'd like👇

👉 Tilling, Living—Renji Enko's Field Records

Vines Spreading Beyond Boundaries 🎃🌿

In 2025, I was growing pumpkins and sweet potatoes side by side.

👉 [No. 56] Vines Connect—Growing Together, the Boundaries of the Summer Field 🌿🌀
Posted on July 29, 2025

I felt something then, too.

Plants do not care about the boundaries set by people.

Pumpkins freely extend their vines,

and sweet potatoes spread their vines so as not to be outdone.

And this year, I am growing not only common pumpkins but also butternut squash.

Even the sweet potatoes, whose presence is not yet prominent,

Once summer is in full swing, they will likely stretch their vines out all at once.

Even if the varieties are different,

in the same season, each one spreads across the entire field.

Every time I see that sight,

I feel as though each plant is welcoming summer in its own way.

The unique charm of each pumpkin 🎃🌎

The common pumpkin.

And the butternut squash, characterized by its gourd-like shape.

Both are members of the pumpkin family, native to Central and South America.

Over many years, they spread across the world and became vegetables beloved in Japan as well.

Even within the same family, each has its own personality.

Common pumpkins have a fluffy, starchy texture.

Butternut squash is said to be characterized by its high water content and smooth texture.

This year, I want to grow them while enjoying their respective differences.

An ingredient that is also great for building the body 🎃💪

I myself have eaten pumpkin often since the days I was working on building my body.

When compared by weight to white rice, pumpkin has a lower energy content.

On the other hand, because it contains a lot of water, it feels more voluminous than it looks.

"Is it really okay to eat this much?"

There were times when I felt that satisfied.

Of course, one must be careful not to overeat,

but I feel it is one of the ingredients that is easy to incorporate even while losing weight.

Harvesting what I grow in the field,

I can also put it to use for building my body.

For me, pumpkins are such a familiar presence.

Dealing with weeds is also part of the summer field 🎃🌾

As summer approaches,

pumpkins will extend their vines even more vigorously.

On the other hand, weeds also grow with an unstoppable force.

To be honest,

I do not manage the weeds perfectly.

I only mow the surrounding area roughly.

Last year, the weeds and pumpkin vines got tangled together,

and there were many times when I thought,

"Wait, they had grown this far?"

The task of carefully mowing the weeds so as not to cut the vines or fruit,

is a struggle I face every year.

Even so, a harvest awaits beyond that.

This year, while keeping an eye on how things are going,

I intend to manage the field little by little.

Spreading toward summer 🎃🌞

For now, the leaves and vines are the stars.

Soon the flowers will bloom,

and the fruit will grow larger little by little.

Once the rainy season passes, summer will truly begin.

Every time I stand in the field,

a different landscape from yesterday unfolds.

Being able to enjoy that change,

I believe, is a great charm of home gardening.

What kind of harvest will it show me this year?

Looking forward to the day of harvest,

I want to keep watching over it.

Caution🛠️

🌱 This article is based solely on personal experience and impressions.
📍 Appropriate methods vary depending on the region and environment.
⚠️ Please always ensure safety when performing these tasks.
✅ Please make your own judgments and take responsibility for your actions.

Deep Tilling × Cultivation
Fields, bodies, and investments—a way of life that keeps on tilling.
Renji Enko