20 Types of Pumpkins You Can Grow at Home (Because You're Better Than Faux Decor)
Pumpkins don’t just look good perched on your front porch to usher in fall. They’re also good for you, since they’re loaded with vitamins A, C and E, beta carotene and fiber—at only 49 calories per cup. Plus, they work in so many different seasonal dishes. So really, you have no excuse not to go all in on decorating, cooking and baking with gourds this year. And if you’re going to go all in, you might as well grow your own; it’s not nearly as difficult as you might think. Here’s what you should know before buying seeds, as well as the top types of pumpkins to grow, whether your end goal is whipping up a killer pie, carving an unforgettable jack-o’-lantern, tricking out your stoop or, well, all of the above.
RELATED: 35 Canned Pumpkin Recipes That Prove It's Not Just for Pie
How to Grow Pumpkins
The main requirement is plenty of space. Some types of pumpkins grow up to 20 feet long, so read the package to make sure you can accommodate them. Newer, more “compact” varieties take up about half that space. Here are the basics:
1. Plant seeds directly in the garden in early to late July, depending on where you live, for a Halloween harvest. Most pumpkins mature in about 90 to 100 days. Read the package and count backwards to ensure they’ll be ready before the first frost (find your average first frost date here through your local university coop extension).
2. Plant three or four seeds per hole in full sun, which is out about 6 or more hours per day. Keep them watered, especially when they’re setting fruit, and weeded so the baby plants aren’t competing for nutrients and water.
3. Most importantly, don’t forget to plant pollinator-friendly flowers nearby! Pumpkins, like other types of squash and melons, require pollinators to produce fruit. Otherwise, your pumpkins won’t form or will turn out misshapen.
Read on for 20 of our favorite types of pumpkins.
The Best Pumpkins for Cooking and Baking
1. Pepitas
This pumpkin has a pretty orange-and-green-striped rind that makes an eye-catching autumn display. It’s about nine to 12 pounds at maturity. Best of all, its seeds have no hulls (shells), so they’re ideal for roasting.
Other pumpkins with hull-less seeds: Triple Treat, Kakai
2. Small Sugar
These are on the smaller side, around ten inches in diameter. As the name suggests, these pumpkins boast sweet, fine-grained flesh that’s ideal for roasting or making pies. To make puree, wash the rind, clean out the seeds and strings, then roast at 350 degrees for about an hour, checking frequently. It’s done when you can poke a fork into the rind easily. Scrape out the cooked pumpkin with a spoon and puree for use in pies and quick breads.
Other pie pumpkins: Cinderella, Spookie
3. Musquee De Provence
Big and flat with deep lobes, this French heirloom pumpkin is prized for its sweet flavor. It’s green when immature but turns a pretty nut-brown color when ripe. It’s also good in pies.
Other heirloom pumpkins: Cushaw, Fairytale
4. Marina di Chioggia
This Italian heirloom has a dark green, warty rind that’s eye-catching in autumn displays. But its sweet flavor makes it delectable in traditional Italian dishes such as gnocchi and ravioli. If you’re lucky enough to find one of these beauties, add it to your shopping cart—or consider growing it yourself next year.
Other green pumpkins: Green Striped Cushaw, Speckled Hound
5. Casper
White pumpkins might not be what comes to mind when you're thinking of what to use in the kitchen, but it turns out these ivory-skinned beauties have thick, delicious orange flesh that's great for eating. They'd be a great addition to pies or baked goods, but they're just as useful propped up on your front porch whole or carved.
Other white pumpkins: Valenciano, Polar Bear
The Best Pumpkins for Displays
6. Atlantic Giant
This is the mac daddy of pumpkins. It grows up to 200 pounds with a spread of at least 12 feet, so you’re going to need an extra-large garden to contain it. These pumpkins are grown primarily for show, as they’re seedy and not very tasty. But they’re a fun project if you aim to enter the county fair or harvest festival.
Other giant pumpkins: Big Max, First Prize
7. Super Moon
Orange may be traditional in autumn decor, but this white pumpkin is a showstopper! They can grow up to 50 pounds, and their smooth white color makes them ideal for display. Their yellow flesh is also tasty for roasting or using in soups.
Other white pumpkins: Polar Bear, New Moon
8. Cinderella’s Carriage
If you had a fairy godmother, she’d turn this deep reddish-orange pumpkin into your coach, no question. This heirloom variety makes a beautiful display, especially with several stacked on top of each other. With its semi-sweet flavor and lovely hue, it’s also a good choice for pies.
Other Cinderella-style pumpkins: Fairytale, Porcelain Princess
9. Galeaux d’Eysines
These warty pumpkins look awesome in displays, lending character that other pumpkins lack. They’re also sometimes called “peanut pumpkins” because of their appearance. This variety is also delicious in pies and soups because the flesh is sweet, not stringy.
Other warty pumpkins: Warty Goblin, Knucklehead
10. Turk's Turban Squash
For a gourd that's going to wow every trick-or-treater on the block, look no further than the Turk's turban squash. They vary in color, shape and size, but they're most noteworthy for the prominent blossom-end that pokes out on the top. It sort of looks like a pretty, colorful small pumpkin trying to come out of a bigger orange one.
Other heirloom gourds: Cushaw, Cinderella's Carriage
The Best Pumpkins for Carving
11. Hijinks
This is the “classic” pumpkin shape that’s perfect for carving or painting. It has very smooth orange skin, distinctive grooves, and extra-sturdy stems on seven- to nine-pound fruits that make for perfect “handles” when carving jack-o’-lanterns. It’s also resistant to powdery mildew, which is a common pumpkin disease.
Other medium-sized pumpkins: Orange Smoothie, Trickster
12. Wee-B-Little
This tiny pumpkin is too cute. It typically weighs in at less than a pound, and you only need about eight feet of space to grow it. Their smooth, orange rind makes them perfect for decorating and painting.
Other mini pumpkins: Jack Be Little, Baby Bear
13. Jack-O’-Lantern
You know this one’s got to be perfect for carving just by the name. These pumpkins typically weigh around 20 pounds and have a solid rind with an oval or roundish shape. Although not often considered a pie pumpkin, it's edible and can be roasted for use in pies, muffins and soups.
Other carving pumpkins: Connecticut Field, Triple Treat
14. Autumn Gold
This hybrid pumpkin is special, namely because of its "precious yellow gene" that turns it golden weeks before other pumpkins (in other words, they skip the green stage). Picturesque ribbing makes these gourds prime for your front steps or backyard, but they're also wonderful to use in pie. Carve one up and save the seeds—toasting your own pepitas is easier than you think.
Other hybrid pumpkins: Dark Knight, Casperita
15. Lumina
Lumina's and their ghostly appearance can do it all. Their smooth skin makes them prime for carving or painting, but they're also beautiful as part of a fall lawn display. (And they're great for baking with to boot.) They're a popular variety that averages between ten and 15 pounds when fully grown.
Other white pumpkins: Cotton Candy, Crystal Star
The Best Pumpkins for Gardens
16. Blue Prince
This gorgeous pumpkin has a slightly flattened shape and lovely pale grey-blue rind with a bright orange interior. Its vines reach about five-ish feet, so it takes up less room in the garden than many other types. They typically come in around seven to nine pounds and are gorgeous to display. Also, the flesh is creamy (not stringy) and sweet for cooking and baking.
Other blue pumpkins: Jarrahdale, Blue Harvest
17. Baby Boo
Aren't they adorable? They're great for decorating with or eating, plus can hold their own against sunlight and frost alike. Technically a type of acorn squash, Baby Boo pumpkins are a vining plant, so be sure to leave space for them to grow on a trellis or fence. Paint them, carve them or stuff them for a pretty fall appetizer.
Other small pumpkins: Hooligan, Bumpkin
18. Charisma
They're great for carving (thanks to their powdery mildew-resistant qualities), but they're also pretty easy to grow. Charisma pumpkins have shorter vines, slender, tough handles and a gorgeous deep-orange color, making them a durable, pretty addition to your autumn garden.
Other mildew-resistant pumpkins: Apollo, Bellatrix
19. Connecticut Field
Consider these the O.G. Halloween pumpkin. It was first grown by Native Americans in the New England area, and is hailed as one of the oldest species of pumpkins. They have round bodies and flat bottoms, which makes them great for carving once they're fully grown. (They're basically foolproof to harvest.)
Other heirloom pumpkins: Chioggia Sea, Queensland Blue
20. Baby Bear
The smaller the pumpkin, the more you'll be able to grow in your garden. Even better than their compact size is their tolerance to frost and their fine-grained flesh, which tastes great in baked goods. They'll only grow to about two pounds and four inches tall, so feel free to plant as many as you can fit in your yard.
Other miniature pumpkins: Crunchkin, Baby Pam
RELATED: 50 Amazing Pumpkin Recipes to Make All Fall Long
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