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Pumpkins — Cucurbita pepo / C. maxima / C. moschata

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Pumpkins — Cucurbita pepo / C. maxima / C. moschata

layout: base.njk title: Pumpkins description: Growing Pumpkins in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: warm-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Type: Annual
Family: Cucurbitaceae (Gourd/Squash Family)
Sun: Full sun (6-8+ hours)
Water: Moderate to High (1-2" per week; reduce near harvest)
Soil pH: 6.0-6.8
Hardiness: Annual (frost-tender)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: 2-5 fruits for small varieties; 1-2 for large varieties; 1 for giant pumpkins
  • Per hill (3 plants): 4-8 pumpkins (standard varieties)
  • Notes: Yield depends heavily on variety, season length, and pollination. Pumpkins require extensive space (vines spread 10-20+ feet). Adequate pollination critical—plant pollinator-friendly flowers nearby. Winter storage varieties (C. moschata) store 3-6 months; C. pepo stores 1-3 months.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties

Cucurbita pepo (True Pumpkins - Shorter Storage, 1-3 Months)

'Connecticut Field'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange (seedsavers.org), Baker Creek (rareseeds.com), Southern Exposure (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 100 days
  • Notes: Classic American pumpkin, pre-1700. Orange, 15-20 lbs, slightly flattened. Uniform shape. Good for carving and pies. Thin flesh. Short storage. Most common Halloween pumpkin historically.

'Small Sugar' (New England Pie Pumpkin)

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: Dating to 1830s. Small (4-6 lbs), deep orange. Sweet, fine-grained flesh. Best pie pumpkin. Stores 2-3 months. C. pepo. Bush habit. Perfect size for pies.

'Lady Godiva'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: Hull-less seeds (naked seeds). Orange, 10-15 lbs. Seeds have no hull—eat directly. Excellent for pumpkin seed oil. Sweet flesh. Austrian heritage.

'Baby Bear'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: Small (2-3 lbs), perfect for single-serving pies. Deep orange. Sweet flesh. Prolific producer. 1996 All-America Selections winner. Stores 2-3 months.

'Jack Be Little'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure, most seed companies
  • Days: 90 days
  • Notes: miniature pumpkin (3-4" diameter, 4-8 oz). Orange. Decorative and edible. Prolific. Stores 3-4 months. Great for children's gardens.

'Howden'

  • Source: Commercial seed sources, Baker Creek
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: Classic jack-o'-lantern pumpkin. Medium-large (20-30 lbs). Orange. Uniform shape. Good for carving. Thin flesh. Standard commercial carving pumpkin.

'Autumn Gold'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 90 days
  • Notes: Golden-yellow when mature (unique color). Small-medium (8-12 lbs). Sweet flesh. Good storage. Attractive. 1981 All-America Selections winner.

'Spirit'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
  • Days: 90 days
  • Notes: Hybrid but worth mentioning. Uniform, medium (12-15 lbs). Good for carving and pies. Powdery mildew resistant. Reliable producer.

Cucurbita moschata (Best Storage, 3-6+ Months, Heat-Tolerant)

'Dickinson'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 100 days
  • Notes: C. moschata. Libby's pumpkin farm variety. Tan skin, 15-20 lbs. Sweet, smooth flesh. Best canned pumpkin texture. Stores 4-6 months. Heat and humidity tolerant. Illinois heritage.

'Long Island Cheese'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 105 days
  • Notes: C. moschata. Dating to 1800s. Tan, flattened shape (like cheese wheel), 6-10 lbs. Sweet, creamy flesh. Excellent for pies. Stores 4-6 months. Beautiful heirloom.

'Musquée de Provence' (Fairytale Pumpkin)

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 105 days
  • Notes: C. moschata. French heirloom. Deeply ribbed, tan-brown, 10-20 lbs. Sweet, dense flesh. Beautiful—looks like fairytale pumpkin. Stores 4-6 months. Excellent for pies.

'Calabaza' (West Indian Pumpkin)

  • Source: Baker Creek, tropical seed companies, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 110 days
  • Notes: C. moschata. Caribbean/Latin American variety. Variable color (green, tan, orange), 10-50 lbs. Sweet, firm flesh. Extremely heat-tolerant. Stores 6+ months. Traditional in Caribbean cooking.

'Cheyenne'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 105 days
  • Notes: C. moschata. Tan, 10-15 lbs. Sweet flesh. Heat-tolerant. Good storage. Native American variety. Drought-tolerant.

'Golden Cushaw'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 100 days
  • Notes: C. moschata. Golden-orange, crookneck shape, 10-20 lbs. Sweet, dry flesh. Excellent for pies. Stores 4-6 months. Southern heirloom. Distinctive curved neck.

'Shishigatani'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Japanese seed companies
  • Days: 100 days
  • Notes: C. moschata. Japanese heirloom. Warty, green-speckled when young, tan when mature, 3-5 lbs. Nutty, sweet flavor. Stores 6+ months. Unique appearance.

'Futsu Black'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Japanese seed companies
  • Days: 105 days
  • Notes: C. moschata. Japanese heirloom. Dark green-black, warty, 3-5 lbs. Sweet, dense flesh. Stores 6+ months. Beautiful and edible.

'Neck Pumpkin'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 100 days
  • Notes: C. moschata. Southern Appalachian heirloom. Long neck, tan, 10-20 lbs. Sweet flesh. Excellent for pies. Stores 4-6 months. Traditional Southern variety.

Cucurbita maxima (Giant Pumpkins, Variable Storage)

'Atlantic Giant'

  • Source: Baker Creek, specialized giant pumpkin growers
  • Days: 120+ days
  • Notes: C. maxima. Giant pumpkin variety. Can exceed 500 lbs with proper care. Orange-pink. Competitive growing. Requires long season, heavy feeding. World record holder genetics.

'Mammoth Gold'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 110 days
  • Notes: C. maxima. Large (50-100 lbs), golden-orange. Good for pies and decoration. Stores 2-4 months. Traditional giant pumpkin before Atlantic Giant.

'Jarrahdale'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: C. maxima. Australian heirloom. Blue-gray skin, deeply ribbed, 6-12 lbs. Sweet, orange flesh. Excellent for pies. Stores 3-6 months. Beautiful color.

'Marina di Chioggia'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, Italian seed companies
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: C. maxima. Italian heirloom (Chioggia fishing village). Warty, blue-green, 10-20 lbs. Sweet, dense flesh. Excellent for ravioli filling. Stores 4-6 months. Stunning appearance.

'Rouge Vif d'Etampes' (Cinderella Pumpkin)

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, French seed companies
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: C. maxima. French heirloom. Deep red-orange, flattened, ribbed, 10-20 lbs. Sweet flesh. Looks like Cinderella's carriage. Stores 3-5 months. Beautiful heirloom.

'Lumina'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 85 days
  • Notes: C. maxima. Ghostly white pumpkin, 10-15 lbs. Smooth skin. Good for painting and carving. Sweet flesh. Stores 2-3 months. Unique color.

'Kakai Hulless'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Austrian seed companies
  • Days: 95 days
  • Notes: C. maxima. Austrian variety. Dark green, 8-12 lbs. Hull-less seeds (like Lady Godiva). Excellent for pumpkin seed oil. Nutty flavor. Stores 3-4 months.

'Blue Hubbard'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 105 days
  • Notes: C. maxima. Blue-gray skin, 15-40 lbs. Sweet, dry flesh. Excellent storage (6+ months). Squash bug resistant (thick skin). Traditional New England variety.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: 1. Choose fully ripe fruit from healthy, vigorous plants (fully colored, hard rind) 2. Cut pumpkin open; scoop out seeds and attached fibers 3.

Place in bucket with warm water; ferment 1-2 days (kills some pathogens, separates viable seeds) 4. Viable seeds sink; pour off floating seeds and pulp 5. Rub remaining seeds in colander to remove fibers 6.

Spread on glass plate, ceramic plate, or screen (not paper—seeds stick) 7. Dry in well-ventilated, shaded area 1-2 weeks, turning occasionally 8. When completely dry (seeds snap, not bend), store in paper envelope or glass jar.

Isolation Distance: - Cross-pollination: All Cucurbita species require insect pollination and cross readily within species - Same species: Must isolate 1/4 to 1/2 mile (or use hand-pollination with cages) - Different species: C. pepo, C. moschata, and C. maxima do NOT cross with each other - For home gardeners: Grow one variety per species OR hand-pollinate female flowers in morning, cover with mesh bags

Viability: 5-8 years under proper storage (cool, dry, dark). Germination rates remain high through year 6.

Special Notes: - Save from multiple plants (minimum 5) to maintain genetic diversity - For heirlooms, select for desired traits (flavor, size, color, storage ability) - C. moschata varieties are most disease-resistant and heat-tolerant - Label carefully—seeds look similar across varieties - Pumpkin seeds are large and easy to handle; excellent for beginner seed savers - Hand-pollination technique: Identify male flowers (thin stem) and female flowers (small fruit at base). In early morning, pick male flower, peel back petals, brush pollen onto female flower stigma.

Cover with mesh bag for 1-2 days..

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead

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