Pumpkin Seeds, Casper

Name: Pumpkin Seeds, Casper
Brand: McKenzie Seeds
SKU: 136319
Price: 2.99 CAD
Availability: InStock

Cucurbita pepo

$2.99

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Product Information

Put a spooky twist in Halloween fun this year with Casper, a white jack-o'-lantern. This 4.5-5.5 kg (10-12 lb.), naturally white pumpkin is excellent for carving or painting. Inside, the flesh is bright orange and perfect for pies and bread. Pumpkins average 20-25 cm (8-10") across and store well.

SKU: 136319

Growing Information

Grows
Best In:

Full sun

Days to
Germination:

8 to 10 days

Water
Needs:

Average 2.5-5 cm (1-2") per week

Days to
Maturity:

90 to 115 days

Key Features

Plant Type: Vegetable
Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo
Fill Weight (grams): 2.5
Approximate Seed Count: 7-10
Plant Lifecycle: Annual
Seed Type: Open Pollinated
Water Needs: Average 2.5-5 cm (1-2") per week
Flavor: Tasty sweet flesh
Companion Planting: Plant near pole beans, calendula, corn, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano. Nasturtiums have the ability to shield against pumpkin and squash beetles. Oregano offers overall pest protection. Calendula acts as a deterrent for beetles and root nematodes. Squash is commonly planted alongside corn and beans, known as the "three sisters," to confuse the adult vine borer.
Preparation Ideas: Great for baking. A great choice for carving and painting.

Instructions

Pumpkin seeds can be sown directly in the garden when the soil is warm and all danger of frost is past and the soil has warmed. Soil temperature (not air temperature) should be between 18°- 35°C (65°- 95°F). Plant 2-3 seeds in mounds 1.5-1.8 m (5-6') apart. Press seeds into the soil to ensure good contact and cover with 2.5 cm (1") of soil. After planting, water the seeds with a gentle mist or shower. It is critical to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy during germination. When your seedlings reach a height of a few centimetres (inches) and have developed 2 or 3 pairs of leaves, it is important to thin them out, according to the plant spacing indicated below. Do not allow the soil to become dry, as young plants have underdeveloped roots and can quickly dehydrate, particularly in windy conditions.

For an earlier crop, pumpkin seeds can be started indoors 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost in your area. Follow the seed depth and spacing guidelines indicated below. Once all danger of frost has passed, seedlings should be hardened off before planting in their growing location. Seedlings should be transplanted according to the plant and row spacing directions below. Regularly monitor your plants and ensure that the soil remains moist, but not soggy while they establish themselves in their new environment.

Click here to read more information on planning and planting a garden.

Planting Depth: 2.5 cm (1")
Seed Spacing: 5-6 per hill or 5 cm (2")
Plant Spacing: 3 per hill
Row Spacing: 1.5-1.8 m (5-6')

Instructions for Nutrient Care: Feed plants SUPERthrive once per week. Mix 1.2 ml (1/4 tsp) per 4L (1 gallon) of water in a watering can and apply solution to the base of the plants.

Suggestions

Pumpkin plants can take up a lot of space in a garden. If space is an issue, plant them on the outer edge of your garden.
Pumpkins require pollination to produce fruit. Consider growing bright-colored flowers nearby to attract pollinators.
Try to water plants at the base of the plant rather than overhead unless it's a sunny day. Dampness on foliage and fruit invites rot and disease.
As the fruit develops, turn them—with great care not to hurt the vine or stem—to encourage an even shape. Place a board or piece of piece of plastic mesh under pumpkins to protect them from rotting on the soil.
From late summer on, remove any blossoms or new fruit to enhance growth on fruit that is already formed.
Harvest after the plants have died back and the skins are hard. The skin of a ripening pumpkin turns a deep, solid orange color and the stem hardens. Thump the pumpkin with a finger; the rind will feel hard and sound hollow. Press a fingernail into the pumpkin’s skin; if it resists puncture, it is ripe. Carefully cut the fruit off the vine with a sharp knife or pruners; do not tear it. Be sure not to cut too close to the pumpkin. Leave 7-10 cm (3- 4") of the stem to increase its keeping time.