The Latest Pumpkin and Squash Varieties for Growers
The number of pumpkin and squash varieties available to grow offers producers a bounty to choose from. But which of these colorful cucurbits are right for your crop portfolio and customers?
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Abominable (Seneca Vegetable Research | Harris Seeds / Garden Trends Inc.)
A medium-sized white specialty pumpkin with a contrasting dark-green stem, slight rib, and nice round- to-flattened, round shape. ‘Abominable’ offers a larger jack-o-lantern size and style in a true, white color. This hybrid is well adapted. Matures in 110 days.
Disease package: IR: PM
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Adonis (HM Clause | Stokes Seeds Inc.)
‘Adonis’ is a tall, handsome pumpkin with impressive shoulders. This hybrid has a strong vine with a thick, firmly attached handle. Main season.
Disease package: Px
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Autumn Pearl (SEEDWAY, LLC)
‘Autumn Pearl’ makes its introduction into the pie pumpkin class with an all around eye-catching appearance. It features a sturdy handle, distinct ribbing, and dark-orange color. One to try for 100 to 110 count bins. Recommended spacing is 15 to 18 square feet per plant. Average weight: 3 to 6 pounds. Matures in 95 days.
Disease package: IR: Pm
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Black Bear (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
A new specialty for Johnny's and a vast improvement over other ornamentals on the market. Bred by Aneta Jacobs and Dr. Lindsay Wyatt, ‘Black Bear’ maintains its exceptionally unique dark, almost black color post-harvest and provides beautiful contrast to orange and white pumpkins. A cute, small, "true pumpkin" shape makes it ideal for autumn decorations. It is high-yielding and exceptionally uniform, and early to harvest. Our thanks to UNH for working with us to develop this variety. It is widely adapted. Average weight: 1 to 1.50 pounds. Matures in 80 days.
Disease package: IR: PM
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Carbonado Gold (Rupp Seeds)
Disease package: IR: PM
A dynamic Rupp large pumpkin variety with extremely uniform shape and strong handle. ‘Carbonado Gold’ is similar in weight to ‘Bayhorse Gold’, with a more rounded shape. Perfect for 40-count shipping bins or roadside retail market Region: USA and Canada. Matures in 100 days.
https://www.ruppseeds.com/vegetables/products/pumpkins/large/carbonado-gold
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Ceres (Sakata Seed America, Gowan Seed Company)
‘Ceres’ is an early maturing butternut squash with a traditional butternut shape. It has a very smooth exterior with little to no ribbing. A fresh market hybrid variety. Average weight: 3.5 to 4.5 pounds.
Disease package: IR: Px
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Corn Cob F1 (Outstanding Seed Company LLC )
Upright fruit average 15 pounds and are heavily covered with
large warts. Hard shell fruit are a unique buttery yellow color. Average height is 12 inches, average width is 7 inches. Some plants with smooth or lightly warty fruit may be observed. Widely adapted to U.S. Matures in 95 days.Disease package: IR: PM
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Delica F1 (Takii & Company, Ltd.)
‘Delica’ is a hybrid winter squash that grows very vigorously and is a high yielding, warm season crop. It’s highly susceptible to frost damage, so best production requires low humidity and moderate temperatures. The shape is a flattened globe with light-green stripes and blotches on dark-green skin. The flesh is thick, and deep yellow with a sweet, nutty flavor. It stores well and widely adaptable. Average weight: 3.5 to 4 pounds. Matures in 95 to 105 days (45 to 50 days after flowering).
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Delicata (Terra Organics)
‘Delicata’ is a winter squash that features ivory cream skin with dark-green stripes. The fruit is 7 to 9 inches long and contains a rich sweet potato like flavor. A standout at fresh market.
Region: All U.S. Matures in 95 days.
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Fort Knox (Rupp Seeds)
A high-yielding pie pumpkin with a handle that appears as indestructible as its namesake! Perfect for school groups and children! Region: USA and Canada. Matures in 90 days.
Disease package: HR: PM
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Gooligan (Seeds by Design)
‘Gooligan F1’ has vigorous vines (great coverage) that produce white baby pumpkins. The plant sets a high number of fruits. A popular fresh market variety. Average weight: 5 to 6 ounces. Region: All U.S. Matures in 94 days.
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Harvest Ace (Seeds by Design)
An orange pumpkin with a dark-green handle. ‘Harvest Ace F1’ has a uniform shape that’s round and slightly tall. A definite showstopper at fresh market. Region: All U.S. Average weight: 20 to 25 pounds. Matures in 105 days.
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Hermes (HM Clause | Clifton Seed Company)
Perfect pumpkin for the small-medium size segment. Highly productive on semi-bush, multi-fruited plant. Well-defined ribs and uniform size with uniquely strong Harris Moran handle. Matures in 90 days.
Disease package: IR: Px
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Honey Bun (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
Bred by Dr. Lindsay Wyatt, this is a striking dumpling winter squash with excellent flavor! Impressive yields of eye-catching variegated fruit, plus strong agronomic qualities. ‘Honey Bun’ is a dramatic improvement over ‘Sweet Dumpling’. Fruits turn caramelly-bronze at peak ripeness, and it’s widely adapted. Our thanks to UNH for working with us to develop this variety. Average weight: 1 to 2 pounds. Matures in 95 days.
Disease package: IR: PM
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Kefren RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
‘Kefren RZ’ is a green zucchini with elegant, dark-green and regular fruits. It is a very healthy, upright plant with strong fruit attachment that facilitates knifeless hand harvest. The planting period is late spring through early summer. Region: Adaptable throughout U.S. Matures in 43 to 45 days (depending on region).
Disease package: HR: PM
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Olympus F1 (HM Clause, Stokes Seeds)
‘Olympus’ features a beautiful, dark-orange color with consistent yields. This pumpkin has a thick strong handle on a strong vine. A main season variety.
Disease package: Px
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Outlaw (Enza Zaden)
‘Outlaw’ is a medium-dark green zucchini with light flecking and excellent quality. A summer squash with a high yield potential. It has an open and upright plant structure, along with minimal spines and strong disease resistance package.
Disease package: HR: PRSV, WMV, ZYMV, IR:Px
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Prince Charming (Outstanding Seed Company LLC)
‘Prince Charming’ is a flat, ribbed, glossy, deep-red stacking pumpkin. Compared to the true vintage 'Rouge vif D'Etampes', ‘Prince Charming’ offers all the benefits of a modern hybrid including surety of trueness to type, and excellent yield potential. Region: Widely adapted to U.S. Matures in 100 days.
Disease package: PM
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Red Kuri (Terra Organics)
A Japanese heirloom winter squash with beautiful, red-orange skin and golden flesh. The ‘Red Kuri’ fruits are teardrop shaped, perfect for pies and roasting. A highlight at fresh market. Region: All U.S. Average weight: 5 to 10 pounds. Matures in 92 days.
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Small Pumpkin Pileup (Gowan Seed Company)
A charming assortment of smaller stacking pumpkins. The amazing colors include blue, green, pink, red-orange, and white. Perfect for creating an enchanting and diverse farm market display! Weight: Ranges from 5 to 10 pounds. Matures in 90 to 100 days.
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Spicy Mocha (Hybrid Seed Company Ltd. | Harris Seeds / Garden Trends Inc.)
‘Spicy Mocha F1’ is a large caramel-chocolate colored specialty pumpkin. It has a strong stem, uniform round shape, and deep ribbing. ‘Spicy Mocha F1’ is a larger complement to ‘Hot Chocolate’ that fits perfectly in warm autumn color palettes. The vines can yield up to three fruit per plant. A well adapted variety. Matures in 105 days.
Disease package: IR: PM
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Sweet Mama (Takii & Company, Ltd.)
‘Sweet Mama’ can be grown in much less space because of its bush habit. It has a single vine and short internodes. The vines grow rapidly in moderate temperatures with good soil fertility and drainage. The fruit setting is similar to summer squash. The skin is a dark-green color, with light-green streaks, and flesh is bright yellow. It has a very sweet with a dry nutty flavor. Excellent storage ability. Region: All Kabocha growing areas. Average weight: 4 pounds. Matures 85 days from sowing, 45 to 50 days after flowering.
View all
Abominable (Seneca Vegetable Research | Harris Seeds / Garden Trends Inc.)
Adonis (HM Clause | Stokes Seeds Inc.)
Autumn Pearl (SEEDWAY, LLC)
Black Bear (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
Carbonado Gold (Rupp Seeds)
Ceres (Sakata Seed America, Gowan Seed Company)
Corn Cob F1 (Outstanding Seed Company LLC )
Delica F1 (Takii & Company, Ltd.)
Delicata (Terra Organics)
Fort Knox (Rupp Seeds)
Gooligan (Seeds by Design)
Harvest Ace (Seeds by Design)
Hermes (HM Clause | Clifton Seed Company)
Honey Bun (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
Kefren RZ (Rijk Zwaan)
Olympus F1 (HM Clause, Stokes Seeds)
Outlaw (Enza Zaden)
Prince Charming (Outstanding Seed Company LLC)
Red Kuri (Terra Organics)
Small Pumpkin Pileup (Gowan Seed Company)
Spicy Mocha (Hybrid Seed Company Ltd. | Harris Seeds / Garden Trends Inc.)
Sweet Mama (Takii & Company, Ltd.)
Scan the photo gallery above for several fresh choices from leading seed breeders and distributors.
Disease Abbreviation Key
HR: High resistance
IR: Intermediate resistance
PRSV:Papaya Ringspot Virus
PM: Powdery mildew
Px: Powdery mildew Podosphaeria xanthii (ex, Sphaerotheca fuliginea)
WMV: Watermelon Mosaic Virus
ZYMV: Zucchini Yellows Mosaic Virus
Sf: Powdery mildew caused by S. fuliginea
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Carol Miller is the editor of American Vegetable Grower, a Meister Media Worldwide publication. See all author stories here.