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Types of Pumpkins

Gardening Guide: Pumpkinpalooza: How to Start Your Own Pumpkin Patch

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Types of Pumpkins

By Bill Dugan, Editor and Publisher

A ripe orange pumpkin

A ripe orange pumpkin

There are nine main species within the Cucurbita, or gourd, genus; they’re all part of the Cucurbitaceae family—cucumber. Cousins of your favorite baking pumpkins are squashes and gourds. Here’s a quick look at that whole set of species, just so you can see the relationship:

All pumpkins fall into these scientific classifications:

  • Kingdom: Plantae (plants)
  • Order: Violales
  • Family: Cucurbitaceae (cucumber family)
  • Genus: Cucurbita L. (gourd)

Species:

  1. Cucurbita digitata A. Gray—fingerleaf gourd
  2. Cucurbita ficicolia Bouché—figleaf gourd
  3. Cucurbita foetidissima Kunth—Missouri gourd
  4. Cucurbita maxima Duchesne—winter squash
  5. Cucurbita mixta Pang.—pumpkin
  6. Cucurbita moschata Duchesne—crookneck squash
  7. Cucurbita okeechobeensis L. H. Bailey—Okeechobee gourd
  8. Cucurbita palmata S. Watson—coyote gourd
  9. Cucurbita pepo L.—field pumpkin

But when we say pumpkin, what most of us picture is that big, round smiling jack-o’-lantern style pumpkin, an impossibly huge pumpkin, or a reliably round pumpkin that’s perfect for pumpkin pie. So, let’s narrow down that list to the pumpkins you’re more likely to grow for food, carving, or competition.

The pumpkin species gardeners most commonly grow are:

  1. Cucurbita pepo
  2. Cucurbita maxima
  3. Cucurbita mixta
  4. Cucurbita moschata

Most pumpkins belong to the species Cucurbita pepo (or just C. pepo), but there are some pumpkins in the species C. maxima, C. mixta, and C. moschata.

A word of caution before you go out to pick your pumpkin seeds: pumpkins of the same species can cross-pollinate. The seeds from those cross-pollinated plants could give you inedible gourds. So, if you have more than one variety from one species—eat the seeds, don’t plant them (unless you really feel like experimenting the next year).

Pumpkins are annuals, which means you need to plant new seeds every year. That can be a good thing—just in case some of your crop doesn’t turn out quite as expected.

Pumpkins are on the delicate side, in that they don’t like the cold, and a frost can really damage young seedlings. But since they’re an annual, all you have to do is wait until your last frost is over and make sure the soil is warm enough and balanced to welcome the seeds. So, hardiness zones are less of an issue; you just need a good idea of the length of your growing season.

What types of pumpkins have you tried growing? Were there any particular types that were really good to grow in your area? Please tell us about your favorite pumpkin types.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Pumpkins
  • Pumpkin Terminology
  • Preparing Your Home Garden to Welcome Pumpkins
  • Preparing to Plant Your Pumpkins
  • The Three Sisters Planting Method for Pumpkins
  • Pollinating Your Pumpkins
  • Growing Pumpkins from Seeds or Seedlings
  • Sun and Soil Requirements for Growing Pumpkins
  • Planting Pumpkins in the Ground or in Raised Beds
  • Growing Pumpkins in Containers
  • Watering, Weeding, and Fertilizing your Pumpkin Plants
  • Harvesting Your Pumpkins
  • Storing and Preserving Your Pumpkins
  • Dealing with Pumpkin Diseases
  • Dealing with Pumpkin Pests
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Pumpkins
  • Plant Profiles

  • Munchkin Pumpkin
  • Lumina Pumpkin
  • Jack-B-Quik Pumpkin
  • Jack-B-Little Pumpkin
  • Casper Pumpkin
  • Trickster Pumpkin
  • Spookie Pumpkin
  • Small Sugar Pumpkin
  • Cinderella Pumpkin
  • Magic Lantern Pumpkin
  • Connecticut Field (aka Big Tom) Pumpkin
  • Baby Pam Pumpkin
  • Spirit Pumpkin
  • Jackpot Pumpkin
  • Harvest Moon Pumpkin
  • Howden Pumpkin
  • Half Moon Pumpkin
  • Prizewinner Pumpkin
  • Big Moon Pumpkin
  • Big Max Pumpkin
  • Baby Boo Pumpkin
  • Autumn Gold Pumpkin
  • Aspen Pumpkin
  • Dill’s Atlantic Giant Pumpkin
  • Recipes

  • Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
  • Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Surprise
  • Flourless Pumpkin Muffins
  • Pumpkin and Bean Soup
  • Picture Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes
  • Delicious Pumpkin Purée
  • Crowd Pleaser Pumpkin Pie
  • Creamy Pumpkin Seed Dressing
  • Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Pumpkins
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Pumpkins
  • Resources about Pumpkins
  • Pumpkin Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • How to Use Pumpkin in Unique Ways
  • What to Do with Pumpkins After the Harvest
  • Pumpkinpalooza—How to Start Your Own Pumpkin Patch

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