17 of the Best Pumpkin and Squash Varieties on the Market
Compare these varieties’ disease packages, regions, and other features to find the right ones for you.
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Atlas from Sakata Seed America
Type: Butternut squash
Weight: 5 to 7 pounds
Days to Maturity: 100 to 110 days
Other: Offers high yields, uniform fruit, strong plant vigor, and a short vine. Its shape makes it ideal for processing. -
2 of 17
Benchmark F1 from Outstanding Seed Company LLC
Weight: 17 to 23 pounds
Disease Package: Intermediate resistance to powdery mildew (Px or PM)
Days to Maturity: 95
Region(s): All U.S.
Other: ‘Benchmark F1’ has medium, dark-orange, well ribbed fruit and distinctive, extra-large handles grown on a semi-bush plant. It has excellent potential for increased profit opportunity for the discerning pumpkin grower. -
3 of 17
Bumpkin F1 from Terra Organics
Type: Miniature pumpkin
Weight: ¼ pound
Disease package: PM tolerance
Days to Maturity: 85
Region(s): All U.S.
Other: This variety produces high yields of dark-orange, mini Jack-o’-lantern pumpkins with long, dark-green handles. -
4 of 17
Butterbaby from PanAmerican Seed
Distributor: Ball Seed, Express Seed Co., Fred Gloekner, Griffen; Grimes, etc.
Days to Maturity: 100 to 105
Region(s): All U.S.
Other: Produces many sweet, personal-size butternuts, which are 4 to 6 inches long; 3 to 4 inches wide. High proportion of uniform fruit means less grading for the fresh market farmer and a satisfied home gardener. Can be grown on a trellis to save more space. -
5 of 17
Carbonado Gold from Rupp Seeds
Weight: 15 to 18 pounds
Disease Package: PM
Days to Maturity: 100
Region(s): Eastern U.S.
Other: Extremely uniform shape; strong handles; excellent for 40-count bins; rounded shape -
6 of 17
Cash Machine from Enza Zaden
Disease Package: Intermediate resistance to Px, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV), watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), and zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV)
Other: ‘Cash Machine’ produces high-quality, medium-dark-green zucchini with light flecking and a small blossom scar. ‘Cash Machine’ sets fruit prolifically on a semi-open plant, and combined with its excellent disease package, promises to deliver high yields. -
7 of 17
Early Prince from Abbot & Cobb (c/o Syngenta Seeds)
Distributor: Twilley Seed, Gardens Alive!, and Holmes Seed Company
Weight: 13 to 15 pounds
Disease Package: High resistance to Px
Days to Maturity: 90
Region(s): North, West, and Mid-Atlantic, as well as Canada
Other: Nice orange color; early maturity; well-attached handle; a mid-size pumpkin with a round shape. -
8 of 17
Green Machine from Enza Zaden
Disease Package: Intermediate resistance to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Px, WMV, and ZYMV
Other: ‘Green Machine’ is consistently a top performer in Midwest and East Coast fields in terms of yield and squash quality. It has a nice medium-green fruit color. ‘Green Machine’ is appreciated for its open, labor-friendly plant habit. -
9 of 17
GVS 48386 F1 from Golden Valley Seeds
Disease Package: downy mildew resistance; PM; WMV, and ZYMV
Days to Maturity: 45 to 50 (with a long picking period)
Region(s): Anywhere dark-green zucchini is planted
Other: Plants have a strong, single stem, with an open habit. This variety boasts vigorous growth, dark-green foliage with silver spots on the leaves, and an upright bush with cut leaves. The 7- to 8-inch long fruit is a dark-green uniform color and has a cylindrical shape and firm texture. Yields are concentrated, and ‘GVS 48386 F1’ is good for both tunnel and open-field production. It is suitable for fresh market and processing and performs well in many countries. -
10 of 17
Large Marge from Sakata Seed America and Siegers Seed Co.
Weight: 30 to 40 pounds
Days to Maturity: 105
Other: ’Large Marge’ is an extremely large pumpkin with a dark, large, embedded handle. This variety sets multiple fruits per plant and maintains size. It boasts a great dark-orange color. -
11 of 17
Lauda from Rispens Seeds, Inc.
Weight: 3.75 to 4 pounds
Disease Package: Strong intermediate resistance to PM
Days to Maturity: 95
Region(s): Midwest, Northeast
Other: ‘Lauda’ is highly uniform with a large fruit size that’s suitable for boxing. -
12 of 17
Liberty from U.S. Agriseeds and Rupp Seeds
Disease Package: PRSV; WMV; and ZYMV
Days to Maturity: 45
Region(s): Eastern U.S.
Other: Strong, open plant. Spineless, glossy fruit with a cylindrical shape. -
13 of 17
Miniwarts from HM.Clause and Rispens Seeds, Inc.
Type: Mini, warted pumpkin
Weight: 2 to 4 pounds
Disease Package: Intermediate resistance to PM
Days to Maturity: 110 days
Region: All areas pumpkins are grown
Other: Long, firm handles; mini version of ‘Warty Goblin’ -
14 of 17
Prism F1 from Outstanding Seed Company LLC
Type: Culinary stacking pumpkin
Weight: 6 pounds
Disease Package: Intermediate resistance to PM
Days to Maturity: 95
Region(s): All U.S.
Other: ‘Prism F1’ is new for 2019. Its flat fruit makes it great for stacking and baking. It has very high dry matter, and it’s very sweet and nutty with thick-walled, dark-orange flesh — exceptional eating quality. It has a small seed cavity. It also has a variety of rind colors: shades of blue, grayish-blue, salmon, and pink. -
15 of 17
Ruffian F1 from Seeds by Design
Type: Miniature pumpkin
Weight: Less than a pound
Disease Package: PM tolerance
Days to Maturity: 90
Region(s): All U.S.
Other: This dark-black pumpkin has pale yellow-to-ivory stripes. -
16 of 17
Smooth Criminal from Seneca Vegetable Research and Siegers Seed Company
Type: Hybrid yellow straightneck squash
Days to Maturity: 50
Other: Plants are nearly spineless with an upright growth habit. Fruit are 6 inches long with good neck girth and uniformity. -
17 of 17
Specter from HM.Clause and Stokes Seeds, Inc.
Type: White specialty
Weight: Up to 20 pounds
Disease Package: Intermediate resistance to PM
Days to Maturity: 95
Region(s): Northeast; Mid-Atlantic; Midwest
Other: Medium-round; white with large handles; high yield potential.
View all
Atlas from Sakata Seed America
Benchmark F1 from Outstanding Seed Company LLC
Bumpkin F1 from Terra Organics
Butterbaby from PanAmerican Seed
Carbonado Gold from Rupp Seeds
Cash Machine from Enza Zaden
Early Prince from Abbot & Cobb (c/o Syngenta Seeds)
Green Machine from Enza Zaden
GVS 48386 F1 from Golden Valley Seeds
Large Marge from Sakata Seed America and Siegers Seed Co.
Lauda from Rispens Seeds, Inc.
Liberty from U.S. Agriseeds and Rupp Seeds
Miniwarts from HM.Clause and Rispens Seeds, Inc.
Prism F1 from Outstanding Seed Company LLC
Ruffian F1 from Seeds by Design
Smooth Criminal from Seneca Vegetable Research and Siegers Seed Company
Specter from HM.Clause and Stokes Seeds, Inc.
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Carol Miller is Editor of American Vegetable Grower. See all author stories here.