PUMPKIN Jap / Kent seeds
Cucurbita moschata
Packet: 10 seeds (Treated), 5g (Untreated), 25g (Untreated - approx 280 to 300 seeds)
The Jap or Kent Pumpkin is just an old favourite in every Australian garden. A popular variety producing squat fruit with yellow-orange sweet flesh with excellent flavour.
This variety stores well. Fruit weighs approx. 2 kg. Usually, 2 - 4 pumpkins are produced per vine. Days to harvest: 100
Easy to strike the seeds of the 'Jap' pumpkin, easy to grow the vine and if you live in an area with few pollinating insects, you can easily do it yourself. Best planted in Spring/ Summer and left to look after themselves, the fruit is ready in Autumn/Winter, just in time to enjoy pumpkin soups and roasts all through winter.
Care: Sow seeds outdoors when the danger of frost has passed in your area. Cover the seed lightly with soil, 2 - 3 in groups. Space giants at least 3 m apart. For earlier Pumpkins, start indoors 2 to 3 weeks before the intended date for moving the plants to the garden. Use Jiffy pots so the container and roots can be buried without disturbing the root system. Also, make sure the pot is wet when transplanting. Sow two seeds per pot, and do not thin. Germinates best at 22 degrees C in 7 to 10 days. Pumpkins are ripe once the stem has reached a dark green colour and is starting to wither. Ample water is needed for optimum size!
Harvest pumpkins before the first autumn frost and when the foliage has begun to dry out. Cut the stem with a knife, leaving 7-10cm of stem on the pumpkin. Do not hold the pumpkin by the stem; if the stem attachment gets broken or any part of the pumpkin bruises, the pumpkin may rot. Do not allow harvested fruit to get wet.
*Important Note
These seeds are treated with a fungicide (Thiram). DO NOT eat the seeds or feed them to animals. Keep them away from children and animals. Wear gloves and thoroughly wash your skin with water and soap after touching the seeds. Treated seeds do not affect your crops or harm insects such as bees. These treated seeds are strictly for propagation or growing in the garden only. THE RESULTANT CROP IS EDIBLE.
Fungicide seed treatment may be an AQIS (Biosecurity, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Government of Australia) requirement for certain seed varieties. Treated seeds may be dyed a distinct colour. Read the label on the seed packet before usage.
