How to Choose a Pumpkin Variety

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

• When most people hear the word pumpkin, they think of a round or oblong, orange fruit that comes out only in October. However, pumpkins come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some of them make great Jack O'Lanterns, others produce edible seeds while others are great for baking and cooking. If you have decided you want to grow pumpkins in your next garden, but are unclear on what type you should plant, then it's time to become more familiar with the wide varieties of pumpkins available.

Miniature Pumpkins

• Miniature pumpkins are all varieties of C. pepo and will weigh up to a pound. Most miniature varieties are grown for decoration and are not usually used in pies or other products. They should be planted one inch deep, with two to three seeds every two feet apart. Rows need to be six to eight feet apart.¹

Baby Bear

Size: 1 to 2 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 105 days	Shape: Small and flat
Notes: Disease tolerant with semi-hulless seeds2 3

Baby Boo

Size: 1/4 pound	Color: White
Harvest Time: 100 days	Notes: Plant later than Jack-Be-Quick.2

Jack Be Little

Size: 1/4 pound	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 95 days	Notes: Prolific plants.3

Jack Be Quick

Size: 1/4 pound	Color: Darker orange
Harvest Time: 95 days	Shape: Tall
Notes: More ribbed than Jack Be Little.3

Munchkin

Size: 1/4 pound	Color: Medium light orange
Harvest Time: 85 to 90 days	Shape: Flat and ribbed
Notes: Uniform size.2

Sweetie Pie

Size: 1/4 pound	Color: Medium orange
Harvest Time: 85 to 90 days	Shape: Flat with deep ribs3

Small Pumpkins

• Small pumpkins weigh between two to eight pounds. Small pumpkins are grown for a variety of reasons including for baking, decoration and carving. If you enjoy eating pumpkin seeds, make sure you grow one of the naked-seeded varieties. Plant two feet apart with four to six feet between rows.⁴

Baby Pam

Size: 5 to 6 pounds	Color: Deep orange
Harvest Time: 100 days	Shape: Uniform
Notes: High yield, great for pies.2

Oz

Size: 3 to 5 pounds	Color: Bright orange
Harvest Time: 90 to 95 days	Stem: Dark green
Notes: Good yield.2

Peek-A-Boo

Size: 3.5 to 4 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 90 days	Stem: Long dark green
Notes: Good for cooking and baking.5

Small Sugar or New England Pie

Size: 5 to 8 pounds	Color: Bright orange
Harvest Time: 100 days	Notes: Standard pie type1

Spookie

Size: 5 to 6 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 105 days
Notes: Cross between Sugar Pie and Jack O'Lantern but with a higher yield.3

Spooktacular

Size: 3 to 5 pounds	Color: Bright orange
Harvest Time: 85 days	Notes: Hybrid, good for Jack O'Lanterns.2

Sugar Treat

Size: 3 pounds	Color: Bright orange
Harvest Time: 90 days	Notes: Hybrid, good for cooking and baking.5

Trickster

Size: 2 to 3 pounds	Color: Deep Orange
Harvest Time: 90 days	Notes: High yields.2

Tricky Jack

Size: 3 to 8 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 80 to 85 days	Seeds: Naked seeded
Notes: Hybrid, bush type, good for Jack O'Lanterns or baking.3

Triple Treat

Size: 6 to 10 pounds	Color: Deep orange
Harvest Time: 110 days	Seeds: Naked seeded6
Notes: Cooks and carves well.1

Winter Luxury

Size: 6 pounds	Color: Deep orange
Harvest Time: 100 days	Notes: Old variety, good for cooking.1

Medium Pumpkins

• Medium pumpkins weigh between 8 to 15 pounds. Most pumpkins that fit in this category are either grown to use in cooking or as Jack O'Lanterns on Halloween. These pumpkins should be planted three feet apart with four to six feet between rows.⁴

Autumn Gold

Size: 10 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 90 days	Notes: Hybrid, starts out yellow then turns orange.1

Buckskin

Size: 12 pounds	Color: Buff
Harvest Time: 110 days	Shape: Similar to an acorn
Notes: used commercially in canned pumpkin.2

Casper

Size: 10 to 20 pounds	Color: White
Harvest Time: 90 days	Notes: good for baking and Mexican candy making.3

Frosty

Size: 10 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 90 days	Skin: Smooth texture
Notes: Hybrid, ships and stores well, good for Jack O'Lanterns.3 5

Funny Face

Size: 10 to 12 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 100 days	Notes: Hybrid, excellent yield.3

Ghost Rider

Size: 10 to 12 pounds	Color: Dark orange
Harvest Time: 115 days	Handle: Dark green
Notes: Connecticut Field type.3

Harvest Moon

Size: 10 to 18 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 100 days	Notes: Hybrid, good for Jack O'Lanterns.5

Jack of All Trades

Size: 9 to 12 pounds	Color: Dark orange
Harvest Time: 90 days	Notes: Hybrid, vigorous semi-bush plant.3

Jack O'Lantern

Size: 10 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 100 days	Shape: Round
Notes: Thick yellow flesh, smooth skin, good for Jack O'Lanterns.5

Jackpot

Size: 10 to 18 pounds	Color: Glossy orange yellow
Harvest Time: 100 days
Notes: Good for pies and Jack-O'-Lanterns, highly productive vines.2

Spirit

Size: 10 to 12 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 90 to 100 days	Type: Hybrid, good for pies and carving.2

Trick or Treat

Size: 10 to 12 pounds	Color: Dark orange
Harvest Time: 105 days	Seeds: Naked seeded6
Notes: Hulless, good for pies and carving.2

Wizard

Size: 10 to 14 pounds	Color: Dark orange
Harvest Time: 120 days or more	Shape: Light ribbing
Notes: Smooth textured skin, good yield.2

Young's Beauty

Size: 8 to 10 pounds	Color: Dark orange
Harvest Time: 100 days	Notes: Hard-skinned, heavy yield.3

Large Pumpkins

• Large pumpkins weigh between 15 to 25 pounds. Most pumpkins that fit in this category are either grown to use in cooking or as Jack O'Lanterns on Halloween. They need quite a bit of space to grow and should be planted four feet apart with six to seven feet between rows. Semi-bush plants can be planted closer together.⁴

Aspen

Size: 18 to 20 pounds	Color: Deep orange
Harvest Time: 90 days	Type: Semi-bush
Notes: Hybrid, stores and ships well.3

Big Autumn

Size: 15 to 20 pounds	Color: Yellow
Harvest Time: 90 days	Type: Medium vine
Notes: A larger brother of Autumn Gold.2

Gold Strike

Size: 15 to 22 pounds	Color: Dark golden color
Harvest Time: 100 to 105 days	Type: Vine
Notes: Large yields, handles stress conditions.3

Half Moon

Size: 14 to 18 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 115 days	Type: Large vine
Notes: Thick flesh, strong handles.3

Mother Lode

Size: 18 to 25 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 100 days	Type: Semi-bush
Notes: Can be planted in closer rows than other large pumpkins.3

Extra Large Pumpkins

• Extra large pumpkins weigh between 20 to 40 pounds. They are not quite as large as jumbo varieties. Most of these varieties are grown for use as Jack O'Lanterns, especially the Howden (Harris Moran) variety. These pumpkins should be planted four feet apart with seven to nine feet between rows. Semi-bush plants can be planted closer together.⁴

Appalacian

Size: 25 pounds	Color: Dark orange
Harvest Time: 90 days	Type: Semi-bush
Notes: Hybrid, high yields and excellent handles.2

Connecticut Field

Size: 20 to 25 pounds	Color: Orange
Harvest Time: 115 days	Type: Large vine
Notes: Used for canning, carving and stock feed.2

Gold Rush

Size: 30 to 40 pounds	Color: Deep orange
Harvest Time: 100 to 120 days	Type: Vine
Notes: Globe shaped; large, thick handles.3

Howden or Harris Moran

Size: 20 pounds	Color: Dark orange
Harvest Time: 105 days	Type: Vine
Notes: Industry standard for Jack O'Lanterns.1

Jumpin' Jack

Size: 20 to 40 pounds	Color: Deep orange
Harvest Time: 100 to 120 days	Type: Large vine
Notes: Rough skin, taller than wide.2

Mammoth Gold

Size: 20 to 40 pounds	Color: Medium orange
Harvest Time: 105 days	Type: Vine
Notes: Round, smooth skin, faintly ribbed, used for novelty and pies.3

Pankow's Field

Size: 20 to 30 pounds	Color: Deep orange
Harvest Time: 120 days or more	Notes: Thick flesh, similar to Connecticut field.3

Rouge Vif d'Estampes or Cinderella

Size: 20 pounds	Color: Deep reddish orange
Harvest Time: 105 days	Type: Bush
Notes: Prototype for Cinderella's carriage pumpkin.1

Jumbo Pumpkins

• Jumbo pumpkins weigh at least 30 pounds and can grow to sizes of 100 more. These pumpkins are often grown strictly for their size, and are not commonly used for baking or cooking. They will all take 120 days or more to harvest and grow on large vines. These pumpkins should be planted five to six feet apart with 10 to 12 feet between rows or more.⁴

Atlantic Giant

Size: 50 to 900 pounds	Color: Pale orange
Notes: Also known as Dill's Atlantic Giant, most giant content pumpkins are this variety.3

Big Max

Size: 30 to 100 pounds	Color: Orange
Notes: Large carver.2

Big Moon

Size: 40 to 200 pounds	Color: Orange
Notes: Show pumpkin.2

Howden Biggie

Size: 35 to 60 pounds	Color: Orange
Notes: Hard solids for processing and Halloween3

Prizewinner

Size: 50 to 200 pounds	Color: Orange
Notes: Most uniform in size, better shape and color than Atlantic Giant.2

Conclusion

• After looking at so many varieties of pumpkins, you may find it hard to pick just one. Of course, it is perfectly acceptable to plant more than one. In fact, if you plant enough pumpkins, you may find your garden is good enough to entice the Great Pumpkin to it this Halloween. However, to do this, you will need to know how to grow the best pumpkins.

• • For more information, check out Mahalo's How to Grow Pumpkins.

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References for How to Choose a Pumpkin Variety

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Pumpkins
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18} The Pumpkin Patch: Pumpkin Varieties
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20} North Carolina State University: Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions for North America
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Virginia Cooperative Extension: Specialty Crop Profile: Pumpkins
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4} Pumpkin Growing Tips: What Exactly is a Pumpkin?
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service: Growing Pumpkins and Winter Squash

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