The Latest Pumpkin and Squash Varieties for Growers

By Carol Miller|Updated: February 08, 2024

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

HarrisSeeds.com
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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

US.StokeSeeds.com
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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

Seedway.com
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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

JohnnySeeds.com
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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

https://sakatavegetables.com/vegetable/ceres/
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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

OutstandingSeed.com
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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).

Takii.com
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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.

TerraOrganics.com
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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

RuppSeeds.com
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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.

SeedsByDesign.com
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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.

SeedsByDesign.com
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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

CliftonSeed.com; HMClause.com
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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

JohnnySeeds.com
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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

RijkZwaanUSA.com
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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

US.StokeSeeds.com
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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

EnzaZaden.com
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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

OutstandingSeed.com
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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.

TerraOrganics.com
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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.

GowanSeed.com
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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

HarrisSeeds.com
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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.

Takii.com