2022’s Best Cities for Pumpkin Lovers

Do you consider pumpkin a superfood? Why or why not?

When I hear the word “superfood” it means “tastes bad.” I would not consider squash a superfood by that definition. It’s just good and adaptable to several types of dishes, both in the summertime and in the fall or winter. In fact, so many of the dishes that involve squash also involve copious amounts of butter, sugar, or salt. So, calling it a superfood doesn’t seem right.

Would you say pumpkins are easy or difficult to grow compared with other fruits and vegetables? What makes them easier or more difficult?

There are three species of squash. Some people use the word “pumpkin” interchangeably with “squash,” and others only refer to decorative jack-o-lantern types are pumpkins. The three types are:

1. Cucurbita pepo, which includes acorns, delicatas, spaghettis, zucchini, yellow summer squash, and most typical-looking jack-o-lanterns
2. Cucurbita maxima, which includes Hubbards, turbans, buttercups, kabocha, Jarrahdale, and some of the largest contest-size jack-o-lanterns.
3. Cucurbita moschata, which includes butternuts, fairytales, and cheese.

The easiest one of those to grow is Cucurbita moschata, the butternut group. They are less prone to diseases and insect pests. There aren’t as many colors to choose from in the butternut group, but the true butternut types are the most versatile in the kitchen with a round seed cavity for scooping like an acorn, and a long neck for cubing and dicing for soups.

Other jack-o-lantern-shaped moschata types are grown commercially for processing into purees for baby food and pie filling. Most of what we eat in this format is from a butternut type because of their ease of growing.

The hardest of those to grow are the Cucurbita maxima types. Some maxima varieties don’t germinate well, they take up the most space when they do sprout, and all of them are quite vulnerable to insects and diseases as they grow. But they offer the longest shelf life once their shells harden and the strongest winter squash flavor. It used to be the preferred processing squash but was replaced with moschata types because of how much they struggle.

Cucurbita pepo varieties fall somewhere in the middle, but it is this species that has a few varieties bred for hull-less seeds for pressing oils and snacking, and several varieties have been bred to be bushier and more compact. There is more diversity in shape, color, and use with pepo varieties. A lot of the small ornamental gourds with spots, stripes, fluted edges, and warts come from this species.

The hardest thing about growing any squash plant is the space that they need. At a minimum, some bush-like pepo varieties need 10 square feet, and at most, some maxima varieties need almost 40 square feet per plant.

What are your best tips for a novice gardener starting their own pumpkin patch in the backyard? In which regions are homegrown pumpkins more likely to thrive?

Give them lots of space in full sun.

Which variety of pumpkin would you say is the best for home gardeners and why?

Butternut is the best because of its adaptability and utility in the kitchen.

What can home gardeners do to make their pumpkins grow larger?

Start with varieties that are supposed to be large (20 lbs. or more), fertilize them with one-quarter pound of urea per 100 sq. ft. two times about six weeks apart, water them a little to get started, and they will take care of the rest.

How does waste from decorative pumpkins impact the environment? What can pumpkin lovers do differently this year to reduce their carbon footprint?

Grow bush types if you want to use less space, fertilizer, and water. Compost vines and fruit when you are done, or let the squirrels and deer take care of the fruit for you.

What are some great pumpkin recipes everyone should try?

Any of the winter squash varieties can be picked young as a summer squash or zucchini substitute, and then other fruits on their vines can be allowed to ripen fully as a winter squash.

Butternuts have a longer shape than most other winter squashes and so they handle more like a zucchini or yellow squash if you choose to harvest them early.

Also, something I learned from my in-laws is to poke holes in a slice of pumpkin pie with your fork, and then pour about 1 oz of bourbon into it. That’s delicious.

Would you say pumpkins are easy or difficult to grow compared with other fruits and vegetables? What makes them easier or more difficult?

Compared to other vegetables, pumpkins are relatively easy to grow. Depending upon temperatures and variety, seeding to fruit maturity is 90-120 days.

What are your best tips for a novice gardener starting their own pumpkin patch in the backyard? In which regions are homegrown pumpkins more likely to thrive?

Site selection and water management can make the difference between success and failure. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun or part shade.

Regions with well-drained soils, dry conditions during the summer, and warm but not extremely hot temperatures are optimum for pumpkin production. Under rainy conditions, there will be greater challenges with plant diseases caused by bacteria and fungi. In areas with extremely high temperatures, such as in the southwestern desert areas, whitefly damage and issues with fruit set due to high temperatures can make summer production very difficult.

Which variety of pumpkin would you say is the best for home gardeners and why?

Most pumpkins produce large vines and require 8-12 ft. per plant. One of the more common varieties is Howden, which produces orange fruit of 15-25 lbs. on a vine that can easily reach 8-10 ft. in diameter. Jack O’ Lantern produces an orange fruit of a similar size.

What can home gardeners do to make their pumpkins grow larger?

Pumpkins range in size from a few pounds to hundreds of pounds and the greatest influence on size is varietal selection, but within varieties, soil fertility, water availability, and temperature can have an influence on fruit size. There are several species that are considered pumpkins, and the fruit ranges dramatically in size, shape, and color.

How does waste from decorative pumpkins impact the environment? What can pumpkin lovers do differently this year to reduce their carbon footprint?

To minimize the impact to the environment, pumpkin waste can be mixed into compost piles with leaves and other organic waste, and eventually, it will break down.

Do you consider pumpkin a superfood? Why or why not?

Pumpkins are high in vitamins (A, B1, and B6) and minerals.

Would you say pumpkins are easy or difficult to grow compared with other fruits and vegetables? What makes them easier or more difficult?

Growing pumpkins is very time-oriented –– starting early enough in spring (March on the coast and April inland, after frost) to get good growth before the heat starts and plenty of growing time during and after the heat cools down.

Pumpkins can climb, they can sprawl, or they can flow down a hill, so you need space. As long as they get consistent water at their base, plenty of compost (manure or compost tea are helpful), and plenty of sunshine they are pretty easy to grow.

What are your best tips for a novice gardener starting their own pumpkin patch in the backyard?

In which regions are homegrown pumpkins more likely to thrive? Since pumpkins take up a lot of space, it is important to reserve an area for vines to spread when you plan your summer garden. Consistent water is important, especially inland. Pumpkins do best on the coast because of the moderate temps with little or no frost.

Which variety of pumpkin would you say is the best for home gardeners and why?

Starting out with very small varieties is very satisfying as the yield is huge. Growing large pumpkins are dependent on variety. Study seed packet descriptions or seed catalogs to get the size you want. Seeds from friends that grow large pumpkins are helpful. Here are some of our favorites that do well for us in Sonoma County, California:

1. Big Max: 50-100 pounds; favored for creative carving.
2. Cinderella (Rouge d’Etampes): 20-25 pounds; favored for cooking and baking; is flattened, deep red-orange; 10 in. in diameter.
3. Jack-be-Little: 3 in. across and 2 in. high; miniature, decorative fruit
4. Small Sugar: 5-6 pounds; the classic choice for pumpkin pies.
5. Baby Bear and Bushkin: a few feet long; small-medium-sized fruits; their sweet flesh is prized for baking; suitable for growing in a container
6. Jack O’Lantern and Autumn Gold: intermediate sizes; good for carving or cooking.
7. Dill’s Atlantic Giant: 400-500+ pound mammoth pumpkins; not true pumpkins, but a related species of winter squash

What can home gardeners do to make their pumpkins grow larger?

Large pumpkins need lots of room, and removing some of the flowers or small pumpkins will send energy into growing very large pumpkins. Encourage production of one or more large pumpkins by pruning off smaller ones. Vines will then send energy to the remaining fruits.

Wait, however, until undesired fruits reach 4-6 inches in size to allow time for plants to self-prune, then nurture the remaining fruits.

How does waste from decorative pumpkins impact the environment? What can pumpkin lovers do differently this year to reduce their carbon footprint?

Giving pumpkins to livestock, wildlife, or compost piles is sustainable. Eating pumpkins and their seeds (roasted) is a healthy, nutritious, and delicious snack.

What are some great pumpkin recipes everyone should try?

Pies, breads, ice creams, lattes, stew in pumpkins (Argentine favorite).

Here are more hints & tips for successful pumpkin growing from the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County: https://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/Food_Gardening/Additional_KG_Articles/Pumpkins