Connecticut Field
Jack-O'-Lantern Pumpkin (Squash) in the US

You'll want to get your Jack-O'-Lantern seeds started either indoors, about two to four weeks before your last frost, or direct sow them once the soil has properly warmed up. For folks in USDA Zone 5, that's usually May. Zone 6 and 7 can start April or May, and you southerners in Zone 8 and 9 can even get them going in March or April. Pop 'em about an inch (2.5 cm) deep in good seed-starting mix, or directly into the ground, remembering they're going to get big.

Once your indoor seedlings have their true leaves, carefully prick them out into bigger pots. Then, you'll need to harden them off gradually for a week or two before planting them out after all danger of frost has passed. Give them plenty of room, like 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters) between plants, because these fellas really like to spread out across the ground, taking up quite a bit of space, you know what I mean.