Pumpkin Season is here, and we have all of your favorite varieties! We’re sharing some fun facts about some of our favorite types of pumpkins!
Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkins
Jack O’ Lantern Pumpkins are a classic orange pumpkin. They are what comes to mind for most people when you think of a classic fall pumpkin. They are specially bred for craving, but they also make delicious pies, soups, and baked treats like muffins.
White Pumpkins
White pumpkins go far beyond just looking chic this fall season. Did you know white pumpkin can easily be substituted for many orange pumpkin recipes? Try it in baking or make a nice silky smooth soup.
Cinderella Pumpkins
Cinderella Pumpkins, or their correct name- Vif D'Etampes, are an heirloom French pumpkin. They were popular in the French markets back in the 1880s. Where does Cinderella come in? Well, it’s said that Disney used this design as the inspiration for her carriage. This pumpkin is not just for decor. You can also cook with them- make a pumpkin puree for a pie, fall muffins and you can even use them in soup.
Fairytale Pumpkin
Fairytale Pumpkins are also known as the Musque De Provence and are an heirloom French pumpkin. They typically weigh around 15 pounds and are a deep orange color. They have an ornate look for decorating and they are also used for sautéing, baking, and roasting.
Wee Be Little Pumpkins
Wee Be Little Pumpkins are a miniature pumpkin variety. They are grown on a bush, instead of a rambling vine, like most larger pumpkin varieties. They are naturally smooth and great for painting. They store especially well and are delicious in muffins, bread, or pies.
Want to learn more fun facts about all things pumpkin? Check out our Pumpkin Fun Facts blog. Be sure to stop by our in-store pumpkin patch or shop all things pumpkin online!
FAQs
Types of Pumpkin Species
Maxima (Hubbard, buttercup, and winter squashes) Argyrosperma (cushaw squash) Moschata (Shakertown Field and Long Island Cheese pumpkins) Pepo (jack-o'-lantern varieties, delicata squashes, ornamental gourds)
What is the rarest type of pumpkin? ›
1. Black Futsu – Like a color-changing chameleon, this rare Japanese variety is one of the most unique pumpkins you can grow. Starting out as a greenish-black wart covered fruit, 'Black Futsu' turns chestnut color when mature, but not before transitioning through a grayish-green, moldy-looking stage.
Which pumpkin variety is sweetest? ›
Galeux d'Eysines Pumpkin
Also known as “Peanut Pumpkin,” this French heirloom is super sweet and wonderful for eating.
What are the best types of pumpkins to grow? ›
Recommended Pumpkin Varieties
Autumn Gold, Connecticut Field, and Spirit Hybrid are large (18-25 lb) fruited orange pumpkins that can be used for pies and carving. Jack Be Little, Wee-B-Little and Baby Bear are small (0.5-1.5 lb) orange fruited types suited for small children.
Which pumpkins are best for eating? ›
Choose sweet varieties, such as Cinderella and peanut pumpkins if you want to bake pies, quick breads, or other desserts. Turban squash works well in savory dishes. Not sure what you want to cook? A Hubbard squash can be used in either sweet or savory dishes!
Are there any types of pumpkins you can't eat? ›
You can eat any variety of pumpkin. Varieties vary wildly in taste. Explore, enjoy and revel in the fact that a pumpkin is not just for Halloween. Whilst you can eat any variety of pumpkin or squash, if it tastes very bitter, stop eating.
What is a ghost pumpkin? ›
Well, these grey pumpkins - spookily known as ghost pumpkins! - are a special variety of pumpkin which do not have the distinctive orange colour that we are used to seeing.
What are grey pumpkins called? ›
Kent Pumpkins
Also known as Jap pumpkins, these sweet varieties are perfect for salads and baked dishes. They're not entirely orange, boasting more of a mottled grey and green exterior, with darker yellow flesh.
What is a millionaire pumpkin? ›
Fruit Type – Hybrid (Vegetable Spaghetti Squash) Average Weight – 7 to 12 lb. Plant Type – Semi-bush. Thick flesh cooks to a unique vegetable spaghetti product. Fruit mature from white with green stripes to orange with gold stripes.
What is the most delicious pumpkin? ›
For cooking, you'll want to use sugar pumpkins (also called pie or sweet pumpkins), which are small and round. Long Island Cheese pumpkins, which are more oblong and can look like a wheel of cheese, are also good to eat. Field pumpkin types are larger, have watery, stringy flesh, and are best for decorating.
Green pumpkin
At this point, you have a decision to make. You can either eat them as they are, or try a few gardener's tricks to ripen them a little more. Green pumpkins are edible, but they will lack the sweetness of a fully ripe pumpkin, so we don't recommend making green pumpkin pie.
What is the secret to growing a good pumpkin? ›
Pumpkins like it warm
Pumpkins are very sensitive to cold soil and frost, so be sure to wait until all danger of frost has passed before planting. Ideally, the soil temperature should be at least 65°F, and nighttime air temperatures should be consistently above 55°F. Most pumpkins require 90 to 120 days to mature.
Do pumpkins grow better in sun or shade? ›
Sun is what fuels pumpkin production. Leaves convert sunshine into internal plant food that's shuttled to vines and growing pumpkins. More sun yields more pumpkins and bigger pumpkins. At minimum, plant your pumpkins where they'll receive at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sun each day.
What pumpkins grow in 90 days? ›
'Jack-Be-Little' pumpkins will have you jumping at just how adorable they are. These tiny pumpkins grow to 3-inches in around 85-90 days: plant a couple rows for a bountiful, bright harvest.
What type of pumpkin is used for Halloween? ›
The winter squash variety Jack O'Lantern is a well-known race of ornamental pumpkins, often used for Halloween. The plants have short vines. Not until late in the season, during ripening, the fruits start to colour from green to orange.
Is butternut squash a pumpkin? ›
Although we treat it like a vegetable when cooking and eating it, butternut squash is technically a berry! Butternut squash is a type of winter squash (like acorn, spaghetti and kabocha) and is related to pumpkins. They taste sweet and nutty, similar to a pumpkin.
Which pumpkin to pick? ›
A fresh pumpkin should be solid to the touch. Avoid ones that have soft spots or sunken areas, as decay has already set in. Selecting good quality produce will ensure that your autumn display will be long lasting. High quality pumpkins have a firm, hard rind and are generally rich orange in color.
What are the tiny pumpkins called? ›
Look for Baby Boo (a white variety), Jack-Be-Little (my favorite), Jack-Be-Quick (darker orange), Munchkin (standard orange), or Sweetie Pie (medium orange and scalloped). I'm growing pumpkins on the ranch panel fence that borders my vegetable garden — it's a great way to save space.
