Pumpkins at a Glance
Try these pumpkin varieties for pies, carving, decorating and more.
June/July 2013
By Barbara Pleasant
Because saving and replanting pumpkin seeds is easy and practical, all of the pumpkin varieties listed here are open-pollinated. Learn more about organic pumpkin production in All About Growing Pumpkins.
| Types | Description | Varieties |
| Pie pumpkins (Cucurbita Pepo) |
Small, with thick flesh and few strings. Good for shorter seasons because fruits continue to ripen as they cure. Pie pumpkins are the best cooking pumpkins. | ‘Baby Pam’ (99 days, 4 pounds) ‘New England Pie’ (100 to 105 days, 4 to 6 pounds) ‘Winter Luxury’ (102 days, 5 to 7 pounds) |
| Carving pumpkins (C. pepo) |
These classic pumpkins have thin flesh for easy carving but are not worth much in the kitchen. Carving pumpkins are valued for looks rather than flavor. | ‘Casper’ (115 days, 15 pounds) ‘Howden’ (115 days, 20 to 35 pounds) ‘Young’s Beauty’ (100 days, 8 to 12 pounds) |
| Oilseed pumpkins (C. pepo var. styriaca) |
These varieties are grown for their nutritious, hulless seeds, which can be eaten like nuts or pressed to extract their healthful oil. | ‘Kakai’ (100 days, 5 to 8 pounds) ‘Lady Godiva’ (100 days, 4 to 6 pounds) ‘Williams’ (110 days, 12 to 15 pounds) |
| Moschata pumpkins (C. moschata) |
Flattened, ribbed pumpkins with smooth skin are resistant to squash vine borers. Delicious orange flesh resembles that of closely related butternut squash. | ‘Dickinson’ (115 days, 20 to 40 pounds) ‘Fairytale’ (110 days, 15 pounds) ‘Long Island Cheese’ (105 days, 6 to 10 pounds) |
| Miniature pumpkins (C. pepo) |
A snap to grow and great fun for kids. Prolific vines often bear heavy crops. Primarily used decoratively. | ‘Baby Boo’ (100 days, 3 to 4 ounces) ‘Jack Be Little’ (95 days, 3 to 4 ounces) ‘Lil’ Pump-Ke-Mon’ (100 days, 1 to 2 pounds) |
| Giant Pumpkins (C. maxima) |
If fruits are thinned and vines are kept well-fed and well-watered, these varieties can produce decorative pumpkins that weigh hundreds of pounds. | ‘Atlantic Giant’ (120 days, 50 to 200 pounds) ‘Big Max’ (120 days, 50 to 100 pounds) |
| Locate sources for these pumpkin varieties with our custom Seed and Plant Finder. | ||
Contributing editorBarbara Pleasantgardens in southwest Virginia, where she grows vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and a few lucky chickens. Contact Barbara by visitingher websiteor finding her onGoogle+.
