Pumpkin

From giant pumpkins that can weigh hundreds of pounds to tiny miniature pumpkins that fit neatly in the palm of a child's hand, there's a pumpkin for just about every need, taste, and desire. Give pumpkins especially the larger ones, plenty of space to sprawl. There's a reason they call it a pumpkin patch -- these autumn treasures need room and sprawl several feet out in all directions. Traditional orange jack-o-lantern pumpkins are fun for carving, but also try other-colored pumpkins, from white to buff, blue-green, and scarlet.

Different varieties, to some degree, control the size of pumpkins. But for the very largest pumpkins, be sure to provide a constant supply of moisture, sunshine, and fertilizer.

Light:

Sun

Plant Type:

Vegetable

Plant Height:

1-2 feet tall

Plant Width:

10-20 feet wide

Top Varieties

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'Baby Bear' pumpkin

produces 1-2 pound, deep orange fruits that are just the right size for youngsters to handle. As a bonus, the semi-hulless seeds are excellent for roasting. 105 days
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'Baby Boo' pumpkin

produces an abundance of 2-3-inch diameter gourd-like white mini pumpkins 90 days after planting.
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'Connecticut Field' pumpkin

bears light orange fruits that are a good size for carving. Fruits range from 15 to 30 pounds, so you'll have a choice of sizes for your jack-o-lantern. 100 days
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'Howden' pumpkin

is a good choice for a large (20-30 pounds) pumpkin. It bears deep orange fruit with a strong stem handle. 110 days
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'Jack-Be-Little' pumpkin

is a decorative orange mini pumpkin that produces 3-4-inch diameter fruits in 95 days.
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'Long Island Cheese' pumpkin

bears flattened, ribbed, buff fruits that look like a large wheel of cheese. The deep orange flesh is excellent for pies. 110 days
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'Lumina' pumpkin

bears ghostly smooth white skin on fruits great for carving or painting. The interior flesh is orange. It is an early-maturing variety, bearing 10-pound fruits 85 days after planting.
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'Rouge Vif d'Etamps' pumpkin

is also sometimes called 'Cinderella' pumpkin because it resembles the carriage of the fairytale princess. This flattened scarlet-orange French heirloom variety has sweet orange flesh. 115 days
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'Small Sugar' pumpkin

is an heirloom variety that produces small (5-8 pounds) fruits that are excellent for pies and canning in addition to fall decorations. The bright orange pumpkins mature in 100 days.
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Garden Plans

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Easy Children's Vegetable Garden Plan

Harvest Tips

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Leave pumpkins on the vine until the skin turns the appropriate color for the variety and the rind feels hard when pressed with your thumbnail. Harvest before a hard frost by cutting the stem from the vine with a sharp knife, leaving a 2-inch stub on the fruit. Place the harvested pumpkins at 80° to 85°F for two weeks to cure them. For longer term storage, place them in a dark location at 50° to 55°F.

Propagation

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Seed