Jarrahdale Pumpkin Seeds

100 days from direct-sowing.

You simply must try this delicious heirloom baking pumpkin from New Zealand! Each heavily ribbed blue-green-white fruit is packed with stringless golden flesh so rich and aromatic you may just have to eat dessert first. And the pumpkins make terrific Halloween decorations, their ghostly appearance unlike any other in the garden!

The first thing you will notice about these pumpkins is that they are heavier than they look. Nicely shaped with a slightly flattened appearance and good ribbing, they have strong handles and a flat base for easy displaying. But inside, Jarrahdale is all business: this squash is packed with rich flesh that will delight your palate and fill your pantry. From a 6- to 10-pound pumpkin you will get several quarts of top-quality eating, whether you use the flesh in sweet or savory dishes. And the aroma is heavenly!

And unlike many heirloom varieties, Jarrahdale is heavily productive. It was bred for high-heat climates, so it's an ideal choice for the hot south and southwest, though you will find it very adaptable to northern climates as well (and it's a good crop for short growing seasons, surprisingly). Expect at least half a dozen fruits from each vine, all colored a slightly different shade of ghoulish Halloween bluish-green to gray!

Jarrahdale stores well, so you can display this good looker for a few weeks, then cut into it for its delicious flesh. Its portable size, unusual color, and fantastic flavor all combine to make it a terrific all-around favorite, ideal for whatever you desire in a pumpkin! We highly recommend it to gardeners in all climates.

Like all pumpkins, Jarrahdale is quite easy to grow, given adequate space and patience! Sow the seeds outdoors when danger of frost is past, or start indoors in peat pots. Plant the seedlings (or thin to) 3 to 5 feet apart. Corn and beans are traditional pumpkin companions in a Three Sisters planting; other good friends in the pumpkin patch are nasturtiums, marigolds, oregano, and dill, all of which help repel pests such as squash beetles. Pumpkins also grow well with melons and with other varieties of squash. Packet is 25 seeds.