youngster and the untried at nub look forward to Halloween when they get to pick a round , orangish pumpkin for a squat - o - lantern . The holiday just are n’t the same without homemade pumpkin pie . Did you know that there are many different types of autumn pumpkin that straddle in size of it and colour ?
Pumpkins stand for fall as the temperature cool , the day get shorter , and the leaves fill up the skyline with vivacious coloration before falling from the tree .
It ’s at this clock time that we get out our decline jacket and question to the local autumn pumpkin patch to range through hundreds of gourds searching for the gross pumpkin to decorate the front porch in solemnisation of the changing seasons .
Pumpkin Types and How to Grow Them
While we picture a average - sized , orange gourd as a typical pumpkin , some are white , steel - depressed , blue - grey , and light-green .
Some autumn pumpkin weigh as picayune as a pound and some weigh up to 300 pounds . With so many to pick from , it ’s often dispute to cognize which case to grow in a home garden .
With all the different types of pumpkins , it ’s a good idea to understand their differences before you decide to grow them in your grand .
Some get considerably large and take more space to grow . We break down pumpkin types into six category and show you how to grow and give care for your own pumpkin vine speckle .
What’s the Difference between Squash and Pumpkin Types?
Are pumpkin the same as squash ? While orange pumpkin vine like the typical Connecticut Field variety are bare to spot , other pumpkin types look like squash , so it ’s sluttish to see the confusion .
To ensure you choose your gourd right , learn the difference between squash and pumpkin , their develop habits , appearance , tone , and nutriment . Planting spaghetti squash and pumpkins is a similar process , along with most other gourd and squashes .
pumpkin and squelch type like winter squash , butternut squash , and cushaw squash grow on a vine , are a part of the same kinsperson , and have a like sweet and down-to-earth taste . Butternut squash growing seasonis the same for pumpkins .
However , you harvest pumpkins in September , and their prow are firm and hard , while you pick squash in the fall and winter , and their stems are vacuous and loose .
pumpkin are a source of potassium and vitamins E and C , and squash is rich in vitamin B6 , magnesium , and fibre .
Both curb omega 3 , Z 6 , and vitamin A , and their seeds are edible , but pumpkin seeds are rich in roly-poly acids , while squash rackets ejaculate bear mellow amounts of fiber and protein .
How Many Varieties of Pumpkins are There?
Like thedifferent kinds of zucchini , there are many varieties of pumpkins ( Cucurbita ) andsquash varieties . From small-scale gourd that fit in the palm of your hand to oversized pumpkins that weigh as much as an grownup , there is a case for everyone .
There are also off-the-wall - looking pumpkins with a warty rind and those that look like they came out of a fairy tale . Explore the six categories of pumpkins to aid you narrow down your search for the complete gourd .
The largest heirloom and hybrid pumpkin varieties are gargantuan pumpkins . These types spring up anywhere from 75 to 300 pounds , and the big of these autumn pumpkin weigh in at 2300 pounds .
They are not usually grown for consumption but for displays and county honest booty - winning . The next case is the blue - green pumpkin vine . These varieties have a downhearted - hued rind , which is an idealistic colour to contrast against the traditional orange .
There are white pumpkins that have white skins and are perfect for modern fall decorating . Some of these case have orange flesh , while others have a white interior .
The red - Orange River pumpkin diverseness are common at the marketplace , but they range from light to inscrutable orange . Some of them have moist flesh , sodding for Proto-Indo European - making , and others are more suitable for carve .
Mini pumpkin vine are some of the more adorable types with their modest sizing and shape . There are orange and white types , and they are all perfect for small mitt .
at long last , there are novelty pumpkins , like the Marina di Chioggia pumpkin , which are precisely what their name implies . They get in strange shapes , colouring material , and texture and are a great choice if you delight oddity .
The Impressive Jumbo Pumpkin
These are the largest of all the pumpkin case and take up quite a lot of place in the garden . If you ’re search for the largest pumpkin to show off to your friends or enter in county fairs , and you have the room , gargantuan varieties are the one for you .
There is more than one type to choose from , and here are some of the more democratic .
While there are many type of elephantine autumn pumpkin , we have three favorites – the Atlantic Giant , Big Max , and Prizewinner pumpkin .
The Atlantic Giant is an orange pumpkin vine that grow up to 300 pounds . However , it want in high spirits K fertilizer to maturate to reach this size .
Big Max vary in color from sick salmon to bright orange and weighs from 100 to 300 pounds , while the Prizewinner pumpkin is a hybrid with a unvarying physical body , vivacious orangish skin , and weighs 75 to 150 Lebanese pound .
What are Blue-Green Pumpkins?
Of all the varieties of pumpkins , the blue - green types are the most alone . The color devote them an other - worldly appearance , and seeing one for the first sentence makes you wonder if it ’s tangible . Here are some of our darling and how to use them afterharvesting pumpkinsfrom your own garden or a pumpkin spot .
Jarrahdale Cucurbita pepo have a deeply ribbed frame alike to the classic Cinderella pumpkin vine with sword - low skin and bright orangish flesh . This heirloom variety is native to New Zealand , and it typically press six to ten Irish punt .
The Kakai pumpkin vine weighs six dog pound , and it has a camouflage appearance with its blue - white-haired skin and chummy orange chevron . It is not a democratic eating pumpkin but is ideal for cutting , and its seeds are a stunning bright blue color .
The Kabocha is a Japanese pumpkin with dark fleeceable skin and cherubic , immobile yellow flesh that holds its shape while cooking .
Different Types of White Pumpkins
The white pumpkin varieties have a ghostly appearance and are a sound option to the orange case for a monochromatic display . If you ’re look for a calabash with a striking look , here are several bloodless pumpkins to get you started .
The Casper autumn pumpkin has complete white cutis with dense orange flesh . It turn ten to 16 pounds and is an excellent eating gourd . Its minimal tantalization and circular conformation also make it a good choice for displays .
Lumina pumpkin vine have pale orange tree or yellow flesh and bright , white pelt . They weigh 12 pounds and are idealistic for carve and painting , but these gourds do n’t last as long as others .
The Flat White Boer Ford Cucurbita pepo look like it ’s been squash under operose weight with its flat show . It grows wider than it does marvelous , has dense flesh and a small seed dental caries , fantastic for making pie .
The Most Common Red-Orange Pumpkins
Of all the pumpkins , the red - orange types are the most common for make jack - group O - lanterns and pumpkin pie . However , many unlike type of pumpkins return into this class .
Of all of the red - orange pumpkins , the Cinderella type is one of the most popular . This pumpkin has a fairytale spirit that resemble Cinderella ’s carriage with a round build and plane top . In addition , it is dark orange tree , has recondite teasing , and is easy to stack on top of one other .
The Autumn Gold is an accolade - winning pumpkin with a globular shape and slight tantalization that induce it look like a basketball game , while the Blaze pumpkin has pale orangish pelt with deep orange marking that look like flames . It is also resistant to diseases and productive in the garden .
Mini Pumpkins for Fall Decoration
While mini pumpkin are too small for carving , they are idealistic for a tabletop ornamentation or mixing with larger autumn pumpkin for extra appeal .
There are several types of these mini gourds in depart colors , ranging from small to tiptop - small , and they are all wonderful choices for fall decor .
The mini pumpkin type are the cutest with their size and physique . Baby Bear pumpkins have sweet and dampish flesh and seeds without Cordell Hull that are excellent for snack .
Baby Boo varieties are tiny snowy pumpkins that only produce three column inch across , with vines touch up to two feet , perfect for minuscule gardens .
Jack Be Little pumpkin are the same size as Baby Boo , except they are the distinctive orange colour and are unadulterated for grow in a container with a treillage .
The Unique Appearance of Novelty Pumpkins
Novelty pumpkins have a playfulness and extraordinary coming into court and physical body . These quirky type are perfect if you enjoy return people something to talk about , and their odd - looking rind gives them an extra skittish feel for Halloween .
fairy story character are average - sized autumn pumpkin weighing about 15 pounds . They are not foreign - look like other novelty pumpkins with their orangeness color , deep guy , and flattened shape .
The Knucklehead pumpkin weighs up to 16 pounds and has an stretch human body that extend upward . It is orange with green blisters that resemble warts , pass on it a gruesome look .
Warty Goblin also has immature and orange blistered hide , but this type has a thick rind not suitable for carving .
How to Grow Common Types of Pumpkins
Cucurbita pepo are a fall staple , and they are worthy for everything from ribbon to baking pie . Why maneuver to your local farmer ’s market or pumpkin patch for a pumpkin this fall when you’re able to grow your own ?
Here is how to plant and turn usual types of Cucurbita pepo in your backyard garden by starting them from seed .
When growingpumpkins from seedsand after the last rime pass off in outpouring , follow the pedagogy on your pumpkin seeds for appropriate spacing and depth since this varies depend on the character . opt a full Lord’s Day area of the garden and sow the seeds as directed .
Push dirt over the top of them , pat it down lightly , and water right forth without disturbing the seeds . Do not give up the garden dirt to dry out out during the germination process .
Caring for Pumpkins in the Garden
It ’s leisurely to cerebrate that plants give care for themselves after you get them get going . However , pumpkin vine plant need the right amount of water , food , and TLC to thrive .
Here is how to care for your pumpkin patch throughout the grow season and things to keep an eye on for as they grow .
Once the seedling appear , ascertain that your plants receive about an inch of body of water weekly and scatter mulch over the soil to keep back wet and preclude weed growth . Pumpkin plants are toilsome feeders , so give them an all - purpose vegetable plant food as recommended .
Cucumber beetles , vine borers , and mash bug are mutual pumpkin plant pest , so keep an eye out for their activity as your plants grow . practice insecticidal soap or get rid of them by hand as involve .
Powdery and downy mildew are also common problem with these vine , resulting in a clean powdery content and lesion on the foliation . If you encounter them , remove the damaged leaf and apply a fungicide .
Harvesting and Storing Pumpkins
You go through the trouble of implant pumpkin seeds and manage for your Modern plant as they develop . The days are getting forgetful , summertime winds to an remainder , and harvest - time has finally arrived .
Find out when and how to harvest pumpkins , the right ways to store them , and how long they last after removing them from the garden .
When the pumpkin reach the desire size of it and the rind harden , it ’s fourth dimension to reap them . Use pruning shear to trim the vines , leaving a few inches of the stem sequester to the gourd .
Cure the pumpkin vine for longer reposition by placing them in a gay location for ten days to harden the skins . After curing them , store them in a single bed on a sheet of composition board in a dry , obscure , and cool field where the temperatures are between 50 and 60 ° F .
What to do With Pumpkins after Harvesting
While pumpkins appear cosmetic sitting on your front step or a windowsill , there are many other uses for buying orgrowing gourdslike pumpkins . What can you do with all the Cucurbita pepo after a bountiful harvesting ? Here are some of our favorite use for these gourd , and some of them may surprise you .
Did you roll in the hay that all function of the pumpkin are comestible ? The seeds are fantastic roast , and all you need is a baking sail , some Olea europaea oil , and common salt . Bake them in an oven heated to 300 ° degree Fahrenheit for 45 - minutes for a goodish bite .
The rind are delicious if you prepare them like dill pickles , which prevents food for thought waste . All that ’s required to make pumpkin pickle is cubed rind , vinegar , carbohydrate , weewee , spices , and canning jars .
There are many pop way to prepare pumpkin flesh , such as making puree , Proto-Indo European , gem , bread , flapcake , and coffee berry patty . More rare uses include chili , yield leather , spicery caffe latte , butter , ravioli , and champagne .
Instead of adorning your front stoup with the distinctive hopeful orange pumpkin this fall , why not fill it with pumpkins of all sizes and colouring material ?
There are so many pumpkin types to choose from , but no one ever says you could only prefer just one . grow your own in the garden is a keen path to enjoy crispy pumpkin seed and homemade pumpkin pie at the end of the season .
Now that you realize the unlike character of pumpkin vine to help you take your next favorite gourd to grow in the garden , why not portion out our pumpkin scout with your category and friends on Facebook and Pinterest ?
