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Ah, pumpkins! There's nothing more quintessentially fall than a carved pumpkin on your front porch. Or a pumpkin spice latte from your favorite coffee shop. Oh, and let’s not forget about all those pumpkin desserts on your seasonal baking list. It’s safe to say that pumpkins are one of our favorite things about fall! But did you know that there are different types of pumpkins—in various shapes, sizes, and colors? Some are best for cooking pumpkin recipes and others are better suited for pumpkin decorations. If you’ve ever been to a local pumpkin patch, you may have seen a few of these pumpkin varieties already.
Here, you’ll find common pumpkins, like sugar pumpkins, ghostly white Casper pumpkins, or even the ginormous Atlantic Giant pumpkins you see at the state fair. Then, there are the heirloom varieties you might see at the farm stand like Jarrahdale and Rouge Vif D'Etampes that come in unique colors and shapes. There are even miniature pumpkins like Baby Boo and the aptly named Wee-Be-Little. Also, pumpkins aren't just round! They can be short, tall, squat, or broad.
Looking to grow pumpkins in your backyard? This list will help determine which ones are best for novice gardeners and which need lots of extra space (even the "compact" types need at least 6 feet of space all around them in the garden). So, if you're ready to embrace the season, here are the best types of pumpkins!
Fairytale
These pumpkins look like they're straight out of a Cinderella story, but the best part is—they won't turn into a carriage at midnight! The heirloom pumpkin is actually quite sweet and great for cooking or baking into pies.
Jack-O'-Lantern
As the name implies, this type of pumpkin is great for carving into Halloween decor. But that's not all! You can even use Jack-O'-Lantern pumpkins for cooking, too. They lend rich flavor to fall recipes.
Cushaw Green
This might not look like your average pumpkin, so you probably won't want to carve it into a face, but it's great for decoration or even baking! The flavor is sweet, buttery, and slightly nutty.
Big Max
You can probably win a prize based on the size of these pumpkins! Despite being great for baking and carving, they're definitely big and impressive so they're probably best for showcasing on your front porch.
Tandy
Tandy pumpkins are unique for their buttery off-white color and oval shape. The novelty pumpkin would be great to show off to friends and family.
Blue Prince
The gorgeous blue hue of this pumpkin makes it worth growing. But the smooth, creamy pumpkin flavor also is outstanding in casseroles and pies.
Cinderella's Carriage
Need a pumpkin coach? This pretty heirloom pumpkin makes a beautiful display or pie pumpkin.
Wee-Be-Little
It's adorable! This tiny pumpkin weighs 8 ounces to a pound! The vines only reach 8 feet long, so it's a great addition to small gardens.
Atlantic Giant
Want to grow a big pumpkin? A really big pumpkin? This variety grows to 200 pounds so, yeah, you’re going to need a bigger garden. This type is grown mainly for show, as they’re not particularly tasty.
Casper
White pumpkins have become increasingly popular for decorating. The thick, orange flesh is great for pies and eating, too!
Orange Smoothie
Weighing in at 5 to 8 pounds, this petite pumpkin is perfectly kid-sized. It's a fast grower, too, needing just 90 days to maturity.
Baby Bear
Perfectly-sized pumpkins weigh in at 1.5 to 2 pounds, so they’re ideal for decorating. But the fine-grained flesh is also great for baking.
Jarrahdale
These beautiful slate-blue pumpkins are 12 to 18 pounds with heavy ribs. They make a striking display but also have sweet, orange flesh and keep well.
Marina di Chioggia
This heirloom Italian variety is perfect in pasta and ravioli dishes! Plus, its delightfully warty skin is awesome for displaying with other pumpkins.
Knucklehead
With a name this cute and all those bumps, this pumpkin has personality plus! Its 12 to 16 pound fruits are ideal for adding variety and interest to displays.
Musquee de Provence
A lovely French heirloom with fruits that reach 20 pounds, these pumpkins start green and mature to a beautiful brown color. The flesh is particularly flavorful for cooking and baking.
Galeux d'Eysines
A pink-skinned pumpkin with warty coverings, this heirloom is also called the peanut pumpkin! It's used for ornamental purposes, but also can be added to soups or stews.
Mellow Yellow
This yellow-skinned pumpkin is a real showstopper! It has a nice round shape, reaches 20 pounds, and makes a great carving pumpkin.
Small Sugar
These little pumpkins max out around 10 inches in diameter. They have sweet, fine-grained flesh that's perfect for pies or baked goods.
Super Moon
Here's another white pumpkin that's perfect for decorating or baking: super moon! These grow up to 50 pounds and are known for their vigorous growth, so give them plenty of room to spread out.
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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