Jack-o'-Lantern Pumpkin
Sowing
Gardeners with short growing seasons may want to start their Jack O Lantern pumpkin seeds indoors a month before the last expected frost. Since pumpkins do not take well to transplanting, peat pots are the best option. Plant two seeds per pot, later clipping off the weaker seedling. Harden the seedlings by exposing them to the weather for several hours at a time during the week before transplanting. About a week after the last frost or when the soil temperature reaches an average of 60 degrees F, plant the seedlings in very rich soil 8-10′ apart in rows 10-12′ apart. Another option is to plant the seedlings in hills of two, 8-10′ apart. To direct sow, plant the seeds a week after frost 1/2″ deep, 3-4′ apart and thin to 8-10′ apart. For companion planting benefits, plant orange pumpkin seeds along with corn but avoid planting them with potatoes.
Growing
Since pumpkin seedlings do not tolerate frost, provide protective coverings if cold weather threatens. Keep the soil moist at all times, but avoid getting the leaves wet as this can cause diseases such as rot or mildew. When the vines begin to develop, a layer of mulch will help conserve moisture and control weeds; mulch also will keep the pumpkins clean and protect them from too much soil contact. By midsummer, pinch off all the blooms to concentrate the plant’s energy on the developing pumpkins.
Harvesting
Pumpkins can be harvested as soon as the stem begins to dry and the skin becomes too hard to pierce with a fingernail. Because cold weather can damage pumpkins, they should be harvested before the first frost. Cut the stem with a sharp knife, leaving a 2-3″ length.” Do not carry the pumpkin by the stem; if the stem breaks off, use it as soon as possible, since this causes the pumpkin to deteriorate quickly. Cure the pumpkins in the sun or a dry location until the stem shrivels; do not wash pumpkins you intend to store. If kept in a 45-50 degrees F location with moderate humidity, most pumpkins will last for up to 5 months. As the name indicates, Jack O Lantern pumpkins perform best for carving.
Seed Saving
By the time the pumpkin has been cured, the seeds are mature. Cut the pumpkin open, remove the pulp and seeds, and rinse off the pulp. Put the mixture in a bowl of water to remove the remaining pulp; the good seeds will sink. Remove the good orange pumpkin seeds and spread them out to dry for 2-3 weeks, stirring them at times to make sure they dry completely. Store the Jack O Lantern pumpkin seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 4 years.
Common Pests
Squash Bugs: One of the few true bugs that bother garden plants, squash bugs are a widespread pest of summer and winter squash, although the will proliferate on any type of squash if given the chance. They emerge in the spring and usually manage to find squash just as it starts to grow well. Handpicking these pests off is the most common method, if you notice plants with severe infestation, cover with an old sheet and remove from garden.
Squash Vine Borers: This pest is difficult to spot until damage to squash is well under way. This moth lays its eggs in the spring under the lower stems of squash plants, when the egg hatches the borers enter the stem and begin feeding inside. Because the borers damage plants froms the inside, they are difficult to treat. Some farmer’s have had luck injecting liquid Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) into the stems of affected plants. You can prevent egg laying by providing floating row covers until the female flowers appear.
