Tips for growing next year's Jack-o-Lantern

18:02 30th October 2009

British garden and greenhouse enthusiasts inspired by Halloween to grow their own pumpkins may be interested in a list of favourite varieties published in a national newspaper.

The Guardian explained that shop-bought pumpkins may be good for making lanterns, but they can often taste "bland and watery".

It recommended the Cheyenne Bush Pumpkin variety for those searching for a fruit that is both tasty and carvable.

However, those only looking for flavour may prefer Real Seeds' Blue Banana, while an alternative is the olive-green-coloured Marina Di Chiogia from Seeds of Italy.

This should help create a distinguishable Jack-o-Lantern, while still having flavoursome flesh that can be made into a sumptuous pumpkin pie.

Halloween, which is celebrated on Saturday (October 31st), harks back to ancient times when the Celts believed that the changing seasons stretched the link between this world and the afterlife, allowing spirits to pass through.