A jack-o'-lantern (or jack o'lantern) is a carved turnip, pumpkin or other root vegetable lantern, commonly associated with the Halloween holiday. Its name comes from the reported phenomenon of strange lights flickering over peat bogs, called will-o'-the-wisps or jack-o'-lanterns.

What kind of pumpkins are jack o lanterns?

The Jack-O-Lantern variety is the most common for carving, but white Lumina pumpkins are a beautifully creepy choice for Halloween, too. You can essentially paint any kind of pumpkin, but you'll want to start with a bump-free canvas.

How do I know what kind of pumpkin plant I have?

To determine whether a plant is a yellow squash or pumpkin, look at the base. Even before fertilization, the base of the female flower resembles a miniature version of the mature fruit. Pumpkin flowers usually have globe-shaped flower bases, and yellow squash flowers usually develop a more cylindrical base.