From all of us here at Sanctuary Soils, here’s wishing you and your family a Happy Halloween.

We love this time of year and consider pumpkins some of the most enduring and attractive symbols of autumn. That’s why we’re sharing a few quick growing tips – as well as pumpkin recipes.  These healthy and delicious seasonal foods deserve to be celebrated in our homes and meals now.

Growing pumpkins gives you a nice decoration at Halloween.Growing Pumpkins

Pumpkins are warm-season plants that can be stored for months in fall and winter. Botanically, pumpkins are actually fruits, not vegetables.

Plant your pumpkins after the last frost date, when the soil has warmed to about 65 degrees F. Pumpkins thrive in a full sun location in well-draining soil, which has been amended with compost or worm castings like Buckaroo.

Just like winter squashes and gourds, pumpkins prefer to be watered at the roots in the mornings with a drip irrigation system. Wet foliage is more susceptible to fungal diseases.

We like to grow pumpkins from seeds sown directly in the soil, but they can be transplanted with plants started indoorsGrowing pumpkins from seeds is easiest. to extend the growing season. Don’t disturb the roots when planting, for best results.

Here are pumpkin growing tips from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Always wanted to grow a giant pumpkin? Here’s advice:

Growing the Great Pumpkin from California Farm Bureau. 

The Race to Grow the One-Ton Pumpkin from New York Times.

You'll find lots of pumpkins around Halloween at farmers' markets, farm stands and grocery stores.Didn’t grow pumpkins this year? No worries.

You’ll find decorative and edible pumpkins at farmers’ markets, farm stands and local grocery stores, and the selection has never been better. Pumpkins are the ultimate multi-use food.  Use them to decorate your home now, and cook with them over the holidays.

Here are 14 great pumpkin recipes from Real Simple magazine.

Want more? No problem … here are 50 more pumpkin recipes from food bloggers over at two peas and their pod.  Enjoy yourselves!