12 seeds
Matures in 100 days
Companion planting: Corn, Radish, Bean, ...
Bad companions: Potato, Cabbage family, ...
This is the quintessential pumpkin choice for Halloween. Kids will have a lot of fun decorating it!
Reaching up to 15 pounds, Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins have a thick skin and are just the right size for carving. They are also used for delicious pumpkin recipes!
You can start your seeds indoors 4 weeks before the last expected frost, but keep in mind that pumpkins do not transplant well. So, put them in large peat pots. Plant two seeds per pot and select the most vigorous one when the time comes. Acclimate your plants a few days before putting them in the garden. You can also plant them directly in the garden at a depth of ½ inch, 12 feet apart, in rich, moist, and well-drained soil.
Pumpkin plants tolerate frost very poorly, so it is essential to provide them with protection if cold temperatures threaten and harvest before the severe cold sets in. When watering, avoid wetting the foliage to prevent fungi and diseases.
As soon as the pumpkin skin is difficult to pierce with your fingernail, it is a sign that they are ready to be harvested. Cut the stem, leaving a length of 2-3 inches, and let the pumpkins cure in the sun in a dry place until the stem dries. Do not wash them, as this could compromise their storage.
They can be stored for up to 6 months under optimal conditions.