You'll need to do some math, I think. Most seed packets/catalog descriptions will tell you the 'days to harvest' for any particular variety, so you need to count back from that plus a few weeks. That said, some varieties will grow better than others in FL during the hot season.

I have a winter squash (originally a volunteer that I've saved seed from for a number of years now) that grew all summer long, looking a bit ragged, but giving me loads of blossoms & about 9 fruits from 4 plants. It's not a classic pumpkin tho - looks more like a pear-shaped Seminole pumpkin.

You can use this guide from the U of F extension - if you haven't already. Both planting dates and recommended varieties are listed...

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021

HTH

Thank you, Since I am new to gardening I just dont know if I should believe the seed packets since Florida is a bit different than the rest of the county.

Yikes!!! it says it take 300 days until harvest! That means I would have to plant the seeds by Christmas!!!! ... Oct 27th is the 300th day of the year

Can you keep/store the pumpkin until Halloween?

Some kid gave my kid some pumpkin seeds so we put them in the ground today, just to if they will grow, I think Max would get a kick out of the vine. I don't care if a pumpkin comes at all, if the seed sprouts I imagine there will not be enough sun to grow before it gets too cold.

I am also going to open up a small pie pumpkin and throw some garden soil in it and we are going to see if the seeds inside will sprout (pretty sure it will but I am telling him it is an experiment) and iam thinking of throwing some soil in the pumpkin we carved and throwing some flower seeds in it just to what happens.

We don't have an ideal situation for preserving the pumpkins, some lasted me more than others. A pumpkin stored under cool conditions probably last 2, 3 months. Acorn are the ones that last the least amount of time.

If you baby any seed, it will sprout and give some results but personally when I start something I look for success. One year I grew the seminole pumpkins and produced during the summer, but at the end of the season it was covered with pickleworms and I had a lot of pumpkins!

For the children's garden I think flowers and beans are the most rewarding, something like zinnias or pole beans or even peas now that we are going to cooler weather.

Have fun with your experiments!

Silvia