Pumpkins make a great kid’s project.� You can eat them, join the race for the biggest pumpkin, and hollow them out to make a lantern at halloween.

They are rampant growers, and just take off.� The only problems are slugs, which� eat the young seedlings.� Start the seeds� off in a pot on the kitchen window sill.� When the seedlings are an inch or so, transplant into the garden, but surround with a circle of soot.� The slugs d’nt like wriggling through this.� Cover the seedlings with a big glass jar to keep the birds off, and after a couple of weeks they should be safe.

� Once you see that there are several fruits, pick one for a pumpkin pie, or make some jam or chutney.� This keeps the interest going until halloween.

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