Discover Pumpkin Varieties | American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (2024)

FAQs

What is the highest yielding pumpkin? ›

The Howden variety is a good keeper and can grow to be 20-25 lbs. The Howden Pumpkin plant has large spreading vines and is Black Rot tolerant. Early King is great for short growing seasons or planting late in the season. Produces full vines with good yields of 25+ lb.

Depending on their purpose, some are orange, some are green, some have different colored guts—and they are all used differently. There are over 150 different varieties of pumpkins in the world today!

Illinois harvests the largest share of pumpkin acreage among all States and an even larger share of processing acres.

Mini pumpkins are not pumpkins but are botanically regarded as a type of gourd, and there are many different varieties of Mini pumpkins including the most well-known variety, the Jack Be Little or abbreviated as JBL.

The Sugar Pie Pumpkin is often considered the crème de la crème of cooking pumpkins. Its deep orange flesh is sweet, smooth, and creamy, making it perfect for pies, soups, and purees. This culinary gem pairs beautifully with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, creating irresistible autumnal flavors.

Giant pumpkins are Cucurbita maxima, a different species from the pumpkins used for jack-o'-lanterns or pumpkin pies, which are usually C. pepo. C. maxima likely emerged from wild squash in South America near Buenos Aires.

The miniature 'Jack Be Little' pumpkin matures in as little as 85 days.

“Iran” is the rarest pumpkin we grow. It was first cataloged by the United States Department of Agriculture from seed collected in 1940 at Torbat-e-Heydariyeh, in north eastern Iran. The seed remained in storage until the 1990's when it was rescued by seed-man Glenn Drowns.

Small Sugar

Possibly our sweetest pumpkin, Small Sugar is just the right size for roasting in the oven. The vigorous vines are heavy producers, forming many under-10-pound fruits that are ripe for picking 95 days from transplant. Small Sugar's smooth texture and rich flavor make it a perfect variety for pies and soups.

How much is an acre of pumpkins worth? ›

The value of the utilized production of pumpkins in 2020 is estimated at $180.3 million with the average US farm price for pumpkins approximately 8 cents per pound. Based on the average price per pound and average yield per acre, the estimated “average” gross was $1,928 per acre.

Every year, almost 25 million tons of pumpkins are grown worldwide. Who grows the most pumpkins? Illinois grows the majority in the United States.

Cinderella pumpkins are a type of winter squash with a mild, sweet flavor and moist texture that makes them great for soups, sauces, purees, and curries. They can be roasted, baked and steamed, and used for ornamental purposes.

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.

Knucklehead pumpkins can range in color from all orange to orange with some green bumps. These pumpkins were specifically bred for their warty bumpy skin and elongated shape. These guys make amazing jack-o-lanterns that are bound to win any contest! This is a POWDERY MILDEW RESISTANT variety.

Small Sugar Pumpkin

If you want pumpkins to make a delicious pie, Small Sugar pumpkins are the ones to grow. This heirloom pumpkin is the standard pie pumpkin. Small Sugar pumpkins are small and round, with sweet flesh high in sugar. They're easy to grow, and a full-grown pumpkin will weigh between 5 and 8 pounds.

Giant pumpkins need a lot of water and sugar, and they need it fast. A typical giant pumpkin grows from seed to huge orange squash in only 120 to 160 days.

Millionaire is a hybrid creation, merging the best traits of winter squash and pumpkins. This unique blend results in a squash that not only serves as an attractive ornamental but also boasts a thick flesh that transforms into a remarkable vegetable spaghetti when cooked.