Which pumpkins are best for carving, and which are best for baking pies or other fall desserts? Don’t be caught off gourd this season—we’ll explain the different varieties you might choose to buy this year or grow in next year’s garden in this blog!
Pumpkins come in all different shapes and sizes, but that isn’t the only thing that sets different varieties apart. 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!
Jack-Be-Little Pumpkin
These little pumpkins are just as cute as their names imply. They are small, orange in color, and edible. Add them to your centerpiece arrangements, or use them for festive desserts!
Jack-be-little pumpkins are very easy to grow and take about 95 days to mature from the time they are planted in the ground. Since they are so tiny, you can even grow them on a trellis! During autumn, this looks especially interesting in the garden and even serves as seasonal décor.
Jarrahdale Pumpkin
Originally from Australia, this variety is very interesting to look at. As a result of their spectacular green-blue color, jarrahdale pumpkins make the best seasonal decorations. They are delicious when baked into recipes like pumpkin soup or roasted into vegetable mixes.
Although they come from down under, these pumpkins can be grown right out of your own backyard. It takes several months for jarrahdale seeds to reach maturity, and they can be planted in hardiness zones 2 to 12.
Baby BOO! Pumpkin
During the autumn season, these adorable little spooks are a classic addition to any front porch display with some flowers. They are known for their long spectacular handles, as well as their ghostly white color for a simple, modern fall look.
This variety is more frost-tolerant than other varieties—so you can enjoy its beauty well after Halloween.
Galeux d’Eysines Pumpkin
The imperfections are what make these pumpkins beautiful. Originally from France, they feature salmon-colored skin and have rough bumps all over.
Galeux d’Eysines pumpkins are your best option for creating that rustic farm ambiance for your home and cooking meals like French heirloom pumpkin soup and squash pasta. They take between 90-100 days to mature and average about 15 pounds.
Hijinks Pumpkin
This is the classic “grab and go” pumpkin variety you used to carve when you were younger—and why let the fun stop now? Hijinks pumpkins make for the best front porch displays, DIY Jack-o-lanterns, and recipes like pumpkin puree.
You can eat, decorate, and carve—what’s not to like? Plant this extra-viny plant at least two to three feet apart from other plants, and there should be ten feet between rows.
Field Trip F1 Hybrid Pumpkin
This hybrid variety gets its name from being another iconic Halloween pumpkin carving variety. Their long stems make them perfect for picking up from the pumpkin patch, or your local garden center! Weighing between five and seven pounds once fully grown, your children can even carry them out for you.
Field trip pumpkins aren’t really used in the kitchen—but that doesn’t make them any less desirable! Typically, they mature about 95 days after planting and can be grown locally.
Fairytale Pumpkin
They are called “fairytale” pumpkins for a reason—they are ever so gorgeous and produce the best sweet, creamy taste when baked into recipes like pumpkin spice muffins and pumpkin pies. Colored orange-green, they add seasonal interest to your fall decor. They also make great centerpieces or front porch displays featuring mums and other flowers.
They grow between 15 and 20 pounds and almost look similar to a cheese wheel once they take their full shape.
Since Bismarck is known for its giant pumpkin growing world records, it’s pretty easy for different varieties to thrive here. Visit us at Plant Perfect in North Dakota today for more information on the best pumpkin varieties, as well as your pumpkin seeds!
