Crookneck squash Jim Jams seeds - Cucurbita pepo

The  'Jim Jams' Gourds are climbing or creeping annual plants, they are Decorative Squashes. Beautiful as they are with their original shapes and their variegated colours, these Squashes are not edible. Their bitter flesh is used in herbal medicine for some of their medicinal properties but it is toxic if consumed directly.

Cucurbita pepo, in Latin, belongs to the large family Cucurbitaceae. Like all squashes, the gourds love rich and moist soils. So do not hesitate to provide them with plenty of water and well-decomposed compost or manure so that they can develop to the fullest and produce many fruits.

Most varieties are climbing. Their branches with tendrils will attach to the support that you have provided for them to best expose their fruits to the sun. If they do not have support, they will spread on the ground. Choose a warm and sunny location for them.

Harvested in September-October, before the first frost, the fruits will be detached while leaving a part of the fruit's peduncle. Stored in a warm and dry place, the flesh of the fruits will dry out in a few weeks. The mummified fruits can then be used for decoration in the house. The cultivation and abundant harvest of these colourful mini-pumpkins are a great opportunity to introduce children to gardening.