Sow pumpkin seeds April, May. Plant out May and June. Harvest September, October. The most popular variety is the Jack-0’ lantern. It is estimated that the UK send 13 million pumpkins to landfill each year. Which when you think of it, is a real shame. As well as being carved into Halloween lanterns, pumpkins can be used in a wide range of savoury and sweet dishes, or roasted. Here is a simple, spicy recipe. Add as much curry powder as you like. I enjoy it on the hot side. It is delicous.

John’s Spicy Pumpkin Soup.Serves 4-5.

Ingredients.

Pumpkin. (size of a football). 1 large onion. 250ml water. 1 vegetable stock cube. 150ml milk. 1 tsp tumeric. Tsp Curry powder to taste. Tsp ginger. 125ml creme fraiche. Salt and black pepper to taste. Sprinkling of mature cheddar cheese. Sliced French bread.

Method.

Skin and de-seed pumpkin. Dice into cubes. Very finely chop the onions. Mix the water with the stock cube. Simmer pumpkin and onions in the water, gradually add the milk and continue simmering until soft. Add curry powder, ginger, tumeric and salt and pepper. Lastly stir in the creme fraiche. Pour into bowls, and sprinkle with cheese. Dip in french bread.

I hope you will try this and enjoy!