Pumpkin Jack O' Lantern organic seeds - Halloween pumpkin

The 'Jack O’Lantern' pumpkin is a variety of early and highly productive running squash, interesting for its versatility. Each plant can produce 2 to 5 ribbed, tall fruits, measuring approximately 18 to 20 cm in diameter and 25 cm in height. With its smooth skin and bright orange colour, this pumpkin has become the emblem of Halloween decorations, to create the famous lanterns. But beyond its festive use, this pumpkin is also delicious in cooking, especially for preparing tasty soups or purées, thanks to its tender and slightly sweet flesh.

This easy to grow, 'Jack O’Lantern' pumpkin is sown from mid-April to June, directly in the ground after the last frosts or under cover for an earlier start. The fruits are harvested from June to October, when they are well coloured and the stem begins to dry out. For good development, choose a sunny location and provide space: the stems can spread over several metres. This variety, appreciated by all gardeners, brings as much visual as tasting pleasure to the garden.

The Jack O’Lantern variety takes its name from the Anglo-Saxon tradition of Halloween lanterns, but its precise origins go back to the United States, where it was specifically developed for this festive use. This pumpkin belongs to the species Cucurbita pepo, native to Central America and Mexico, but its selection as a decorative and culinary variety was made later, in a North American context. The 'Jack O’Lantern' was designed to meet two main criteria: an ideal size and shape for easy carving and a fruit light enough to be handled without difficulty. At the same time, its edible flesh made it versatile, even if its decorative use remains dominant. This variety became popular during the 20th century when Halloween gained worldwide notoriety.

Today, the Pumpkin Jack O’Lantern is grown in many countries, but it remains strongly associated with the American tradition.

Squashes, introduced in Europe in the 16th century, belong to the cucurbit family. Their great diversity of shapes, sizes, and colours is explained by their ease of hybridisation. Flowering takes the form of large yellow flowers, with distinct male and female flowers. Male flowers, often harvested to be consumed stuffed or in fritters, are distinguished by the absence of an ovary under the corolla, unlike female flowers. Winter squashes, like pumpkins and butternut squashes, have tough skin and sweet flesh. Low in calories, they are rich in provitamin A, B vitamins, and minerals, and can be integrated into a wide variety of Mediterranean dishes, soups, gratins, or stir-fries.

Squashes are harvested when ripe, although they can finish ripening indoors. Winter squashes can be stored for several months in a dry, warm place. To protect the fruits from moisture, it is advisable to place a tile or slate under the plants and to mulch around the base, especially in summer. Finally, to prevent powdery mildew, a common fungal disease, it is important to avoid watering the leaves and flowers. Squashes pair well in the garden with alliums like onions or chives, as well as with legumes like beans or peas, but it is best to avoid planting them near cucumbers, which can hinder their development.