Delicious in the cooking pot or horrifying as a skull – everything is possible with the pumpkin!

Summer hardly ends before the days grow shorter. The prime time for pumpkins begins. In countless shapes and colors, they peek out from garden beds, quickly growing to their full, impressive size. In many competitions, the largest specimen is crowned, regularly weighing several hundred kilograms. Yet, there are also miniature versions that could fit in your pocket. Few other plants exhibit such enormous size differences among their species. This colorful garden dweller brings a lot of joy to all family members. In white, yellow, orange, and green, or even in a fun bicolor outfit, it romps in the garden bed, appearing in the most incredible forms. From plump, round, and smooth to cucumber-shaped and wrinkled, everything is there. To enjoy it, you certainly don't have to wait until Halloween!

Pumpkins are often called vegetables, but botanically speaking, they belong to the category of fruits. They thrive well in loamy soil, but they also adapt well to other conditions. Since they are not particularly sensitive, they also grow in sandy and somewhat heavier soil conditions. Many varieties can be harvested over a longer period. There are those that serve as decoration, and those that, after the great joy of harvesting and preparing, become a culinary delight.

Pumpkins are always an unbeatable decor idea. Every combination is a unique creation. A few particularly beautiful specimens placed in front of the entrance door guarantee smiles from guests. They also make a sensation as room decorations. They brightly peer out from small and large bowls. The pumpkin fun naturally becomes the highlight on Halloween. Even working on the robust plant to turn it into the coolest head among its peers brings joy to the whole family. Its use with the subtle hint "Trick or Treat" then brings the desired success. At most front doors, this garden fruit ensures the delightful little treats that kids love so much.

Anyone growing pumpkins for culinary delight will sooner or later come across the "Hokkaido." It combines all the good qualities of its kind. It looks great, is easy to prepare, and can be eaten both raw and cooked. A wonderful plant with great flavor for all fans of pumpkin dishes. Dessert, cake, vegetables, soups, sweets – unlimited enjoyment is on the menu.

The "garden pumpkin" is completely unproblematic for our latitudes. It comes in many varieties, so there's something for everyone. Under its hard skin, aromatic flesh combines sweetness with a robust flavor. It's interspersed with the well-known pumpkin seeds, which are primarily harvested from this plant, and is perfectly suited for delicate jams and chutneys.

If you want to work precisely towards October 31st, you'll also find explicit Halloween pumpkins. One example is the "Early Harvest." Once its delicious interior has been scooped out, you can easily transform it into a skull.

Or are you tempted by the idea of admiring a large pumpkin in your cottage garden? Then the "Muscat pumpkin" is suitable; it easily reaches up to 20 kg and also has a delicious interior with a fine but not sweet aroma.

Anyone who's always wanted to land UFOs in their garden paradise should go for the "Pattison." Kids will love it because of its round, saucer-like shape, presented in galactic waves! These small flying objects appear in green, yellow, and orange varieties. Their flesh is tender but has little flavor of its own. Therefore, besides being admired, they are often used as a partner for delicate fillings or for pickling.