65 of the Best Pumpkin Varieties to Grow in Your Garden

Pumpkins are Cucurbits along with Squash, gourds and cucumbers. They are pretty much an overlooked fruit other than on Halloween. There are many different varieties of pumpkins that we have cataloged according to their size. There are also Novelty varieties such as white, blue and green pumpkins and one of my personal favorites Musquee du Maroc, a rare variety of Squash that looks like a pumpkin with green warts.

Miniature Pumpkin Varieties

These are from the plant species Cucurbita pepo, which also includes gourds and other circubits such as some varieties of squash and Zucchini. They weigh up to a pound. Most miniature varieties are grown for decoration and are generally not used for cooking, although some newer hybrid varieties, such as Baby Bear have proven to be very palatable.

Small Pumpkin Varieties

These pumpkins weigh between two and eight pounds. Small pumpkins are grown for decoration and carving as well as baking.

Medium Pumpkin Varieties

Medium pumpkins weigh between 8 and 15 pounds. They are grown to use in cooking ,decoration and carving. Long Island Cheese is favored for its ornamental value but traditionally and historically it was, and still is considered by many to be the best cultivar for pumpkin pies.

Large Pumpkin Varieties

Large pumpkins weigh between 15 and 25 pounds. They are grown to use in cooking ,decoration and carving.

Extra Large Pumpkin Varieties

The extra-large pumpkins weigh between 20 and 40 pounds. They are sometimes as large as jumbo / giant varieties and are grown for use as decoration and carving.

Giant Pumpkin Varieties

Giant pumpkins weigh a minimum of 30 pounds and can grow to 100 lbs. or more. These are the types of Pumpkins that Peter the pumpkin eater would keep his wife in – if you’re familiar with the old nursery rhyme. The current world record is 1,689 pounds for an Atlantic Giant pumpkin – wow that’s a lot of Pumpkin! These pumpkins are generally grown for their size and are rarely used for baking or cooking. They take 120 or more days to harvest and grow on large vines. Growing Giant Pumpkins is an art in itself and there is actually a competitive Giant Pumpkin Growing Cult.

Selected Varieties of Pumpkin

This list below is far from a complete list, it is selected varieties of varying types of Pumpkins. There are Hundreds of Hybrid as well as heirloom varieties on the Market.

Miniature Pumpkins

  • Baby Bear
    • Flat shape; thin stem
    • 1 1/2 to 2 1/2-lbs.
    • 5 to 6 inches diameter
    • Skin Color: Deep Orange
    • 8 to 9 pumpkins per vine
    • Maturity 100 – 105 Days 
  • Baby Boo
    • Ornamental Only – not palatable
    • White Color
    • 3 Inch diameter
    • Maturity 85 Days 
  • Baby Pam
    • semi-bush, smooth skin, 
    • Thick stem, yellowish color
    • 2 to 3 lbs.
    • 5 Inch Diameter
    • Orange
    • 4 to 5 Pumpkins per vine
  • Cinderella
    • Ornamental but edible
    • Semi -Flat Oval, 
    • Deep Orange
    • French heirloom variety 
      • A/K/A Rouge Vif d’Etampes
    • 25-30 lbs
    • Maturity 95 Days
  • Hooligan
    • Relatively New Hybridized Jack be Little
    • Pale Speckled in Color
    • 3 Inch diameter
    • Maturity 95 Days to 110 days
  • Jack Be Little
    • 3-4 inches in diameter 
    • flattened top.
    • Height: 6-8 ft. 
    • Spacing: 4-6 ft.
    • Days to Maturity 91 to 100 days
    • Skin Color: Orange

Small Pumpkins

  • Small Sugar 
    • Round, flattened at the top and bottom
    • 8 to 10 inches Diameter
    • 6 to 10 lbs
    • Maturity 90 to 110 days 
  • Spooktacular
    • hybrid; bright orange, 
    • Thick strong stem
    • 5 to 6 Inch  Diameter
    • 3 to 4 lbs
    • Maturity 85 days 
  • Sugar Pie
    • 6 to 8 lbs
    • One of the Best Pumpkins for Pie
    • Maturity 90 to 100 days
  • Sugar Treat
    • hybrid, semi- bush
    • bright color
  • Turkish Turban
    • 10 inch Diameter
    • Yellow Flesh – Turnip like taste
    • A/K/A Mexican Hat
    • Maturity 90 – 100 Days
  • Winter Luxury 
    • 10 Inch Diameter – Globe shape
    • 5-7 lbs
    • 3-4 pumpkins per plant
    • Maturity: 85-100 Days

Medium Pumpkins

  • Aspen
    • F1 Hybrid
    • deep orange, uniform shape
    • Aprox. 20 lbs
    • Semi-bush 
    • Maturity 85 – 90 Days
  • Big Autumn 
    • semi-bush 
    • 15 – 20 pounds
    • Good for Pie and Decor
    • Maturity 90 Days
  • Howden Field
    • 15 lb Avg. Pumpkins
    • Maturity 110 to 115 Days
  • Jackpot
    • round fruit, compact vine

Related: Types of Pumpkins in South Africa

Large and Extra Large Pumpkins

  • Autumn Gold 
    • Bright Orange Color
    • F1 Hybrid
    • 10 – 12 inch diameter
    • 10 lbs
    • Maturity 85 – 90 Days
  • Bushkin
    • hybrid, bush type
    • acorn-shaped
    • 9 – 10 lbs.
    • 5 to 6 inches diameter
  • Frosty
    • F1 Hybrid
    • hybrid; smooth-textured skin
    • Basic Pumpkin Orange
    • 9 to 10 lbs
    • Maturity 90 – 95 Days
  • Harvest Moon 
    • Hybrid
    • 8 to 10 lbs
    • Uniform Orange Color
    • Maturity 100 -110 days
  • Jack-o-Lantern
    • 8 to 10 lbs
    • 8-10 Inch Diameter
    • Uniform Orange Color – Oblong Fruit
    • Maturity 95 to 105 days
  • Long Island Cheese Pumpkin
  • Lumina
    • White skin / bright orange flesh
    • 8 to 10 Inch Diameter
    • 10 to 12 lbs
    • Maturity 95 – 110 Days
  • Spirit
    • semi-bush
    • 12 inch diameter 
    • Excellent for carving and decor
    • Maturity 95 – 100 Days
  • Young’s Beauty 
    • round to slightly elongated
    • deep orange fruits 
    • 10 inch Diameter
    • 8 to 12 lbs
    • Maturity 95 – 100 Days

Giant Pumpkins

  • Atlantic Giant
    • Fruit Wght. is 400 lbs and More
    • Yellow to Orange 
    • Maturity 120 to 130 Days
  • Big Max 
    • Fruit Wght. – 100 lbs and More
    • Basic Pumpkin Orange
    • Maturity 110 Days
  • Big Moon 
    • Fruit Wght. 150 – 200 lbs and More
    • Basic Pumpkin Orange
    • Maturity  120 Days
  • Mammoth Gold 
    • Fruit Wght. 40 – 60 lbs
    • pale orange flesh
    • Maturity 110 Days
  • Prizewinner 
    • Fruit Wght. 100 – 300 lbs and More
    • Basic Pumpkin Orange
    • Maturity 110 – 120 Days

Related: The Growth Stages of Pumpkins