What is a heirloom pumpkin?
Heirloom pumpkin is a type of winter squash that has been cultivated for years & years in a given region. Heirloom pumpkins are known for their rich flesh and one-of-a-kind appearance. Those types of squash are NEVER genetically modified, always open-pollinated (pollinated by birds, insects, etc.), and their seeds are passed from generation to generation.
Can you eat heirloom pumpkins?
They are suitable for all kinds of cooking endeavors: making pies & purees, baking, and grilling. They also make for beautiful decorations.
Heirloom pumpkin, squash, and gourd types. A handy guide with descriptions and pictures.
Australian Butter Squash
Heirloom. It looks similar to Cinderella Pumpkin, but it's boxier and rough-looking. Its skin is much paler, though. Color range: pink, salmon, yellow, light orange. It's deeply ribbed, usually weighs around 15 pounds. Its rind is hard, but the flesh is sweet and creamy (ideal for baking).
Summer and Winter varieties are available.
Arikara Squash
| Arikara Squash - Knife River Squash Variety. Photo: Rareseeds. |
North American heirloom that gets its name from Arikara tribe (today's North and South Dakota region). It usually weighs between 5 and 10 pounds. Shape range: oval, pear, teardrop, oblong, roundish. Color range: orange, orange & green, dull orange, cream, buff, pinkish. Its skin is rough with moderate ribbing. It may have a limited amount of warts. It has creamy flesh, perfect for making pies. Available in the Winter.
Arikara squash varieties:
Knife River Squash. It's usually dull orange, buff, cream, sometimes green. Usually, pear-shaped or round.
La madera squash. Warty. Oblong, pear-shaped, or roundish. Colors: pink, cream, white, dull orange. Delicious thick flesh.
Banana Squash
Banana squash varieties:
Candy Roaster Squash
| Photos: The Red Feedsack |
Heirloom. Developed and cultivated by the Cherokee People (from the Southern Appalachians). Color range: pink, dull orange, sometimes grey, blue, light green. Shapes: usually oblong (they resemble bananas or big cucumbers), sometimes pear-shaped or roundish. Weight: 8-250 pounds.
Skin: from smooth to slightly rough with barely visible ribbing.
Flesh: sweet, orange, creamy. Ideal for roasting and baking. They're available during the Autumn months.
You can buy seeds at county fairs.
North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash
| Candy Roaster - North Georgia Squash (Banana Squash Variety). Photo: Rareseeds |
A modern version of the Candy Roaster variety. Long, weighs from 8 to 15 lb. It's usually banana or cucumber-shaped. It's pink salmon-colored with dull-green streaks here and there. It has delicious smooth flesh.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds website.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds website.
Guatemalan Blue Banana Squash
Guatemalan Heirloom. Grown in South America for over 1000 years before Columbus. Usually 20 inches long but it can grow up to 2 feet!
It has an oblong shape and blue rugged skin with faint white streaks. It has yellow-orange sweet flesh. It's great for frying and roasting.
and Wildrose Heritage Seed Company. Learn more about the squash.
Jumbo Pink Banana Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Grown for over 100 years. Large (it can weigh up to 40 lbs), salmon pink-colored, banana-shaped, with slightly rugged skin. Dry & sweet flesh.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
Black Futsu Squash
| Winter Squash, Black Futsu (Organic), Photo: Adaptive Seeds |
Japanese heirloom. Small, medium, or large. Its skin is deeply ribbed and covered with bumps. It has a deep green color when it's young. It slowly becomes grey, mildew-grey, and finally, orange, pinkish or brownish (when it fully ripens). Its flesh is orange and has a nutty, sweet flavor. It often looks like it's covered with mildew, but that's just its charm.
Available in the Fall.
Boston Marrow
Squash
Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Teardrop or pear-shaped medium-sized squash. Bright-orange or orange-red color. It has rugged skin and sweet orange flesh. Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at the Rareseeds website.
You can buy seeds at the Rareseeds website.
Buttercup squash
| Photos: Rareseeds |
It's small, green with rough skin, white stripes, and faint dots. Its bottom resembles turban squash, although very often it's not as distinctive. It looks very similar to kabocha squash but its flavor is not as crisp and the texture is much drier. Available in the Fall & Winter.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Blue Hubbard Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Grey, blue or deep green-colored. It has bumpy, ribbed skin and sweet orange flesh. It weighs between 5 and 40 pounds and comes in a variety of shapes: giant pear (often curved at the top), teardrop, oval, pumpkin-like.
Available during the Fall months.
Seeds are available on Rareseeds website.
Available during the Fall months.
Seeds are available on Rareseeds website.
Cocozella Di Napoli Squash
| Photos: Rareseeds |
Italian heirloom. It resembles a large cucumber. Sometimes curved at the top. It has ribbed green skin with white and yellow stripes, spots, and streaks. Its flesh is dense and full of flavor.
Available in Summer.
You can buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
Available in Summer.
You can buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
Casper Pumpkin
Photo: Pixabay
Small and medium. Round to oblong-shaped with smooth white skin & gentle ribs. The thick, sweet orange flesh is ideal for baking purposes.
You can buy it in the Fall.
Seeds available on Amazon.
Connecticut Field Pumpkin
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Carving pumpkin type, but it's also suitable for cooking and baking. One of the oldest pumpkins around. It's medium to large, round or oblong, bright-orange with moderately ribbed skin and orange flesh.
To buy during the Autumn months at Rareseeds.com.
To buy during the Autumn months at Rareseeds.com.
Crookneck Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Curved at the stem, pear-like squash. It has a yellow rind, it can be smooth or rigged (sometimes with warts and bumps). It has sweet yellow flesh.
Available in the Summer.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
Available in the Summer.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
Canada Crookneck Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Medium-sized. Pear-shaped with a curved neck. It looks and tastes similar to butternut squash and it is, in fact, its ancestor.
It's a Winter squash type.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
It's a Winter squash type.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
Cushaw or
Japanese Pie Pumpkin or Cucurbita Argyrosperma
Japanese Pie Pumpkin or Cucurbita Argyrosperma
Cushaw types:
Green-striped (most popular): Long, pear-shaped, sometimes crooked at the top. It has silver and green streaks. Weighs up to 20 pounds. Great for roasting. Flowers, shoots, and seeds are also edible.
Gold-striped: Pear-shaped. It has yellow, orange, and white stripes and streaks instead of green and silver.
Golden: It's pear-shaped, it has yellow or orange skin. No stripes. It is slightly ribbed. It has creamy flesh. Tastes similar to sweet potatoes.
White: Pear-shaped. It has white skin & orange flesh.
Seminole Pumpkin: Smaller-sized cushaw squash. It looks almost exactly like a big pear. It can be brownish or dull-orange with delicious creamy (orange) flesh.
Crown of Thorns or Ten Commandments Gourds
Very distinctive looking. Small & shaped like a crown.
Sometimes covered with warts and bumps. Its mixed colors (green, deep-green, white, yellow, orange) often form breathtaking patterns. Usually used as a decoration, but it can be baked or cooked and eaten just like a regular squash.
Available in the Fall.
You can find seeds on Amazon.
Delicata Squash
| Photos: Rareseeds |
Heirloom variety. It looks either like a giant, thick cucumber. It's medium-ribbed. The skin is yellow with dark-green stripes and occasional spots. It has a sweet, delicate taste. The flesh is yellow.
You can buy it in the Fall.
You can buy it in the Fall.
Seeds are available on Amazon.
Gete Okosomin
| Photos: Rareseeds |
Seeds available at Rareseeds.com
Galeux D'Eysines Squash
| Photo: Pixabay |
You can buy it in the Fall.
Seeds available at Rareseeds.com
Giromon Squash
| Photo: Pixabay |
Available in the Caribbean.
Hidatsa squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Usually teardrop, pear, or onion-shaped & asymmetrical looking. Pinkish or dull-orange, rugged skin. They have yellow, sweet, thick flesh.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Hopi squash
Hopi Pale Grey Squash, Photo: Rareseeds
Available in the Fall & Winter. You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Iran Squash
| Photos: Rareseeds |
Heirloom from the Iranian city of Torbat-e-Heydariyeh. Medium & large. Round. Multicolored (green, light green, orange, yellow). It has smooth, spotted skin and moderate to no ribbing. Sometimes slightly flattened.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Jarrahdale Pumpkin
Photo: Pixabay
Heirloom. Blue and grey. Medium to big. Deeply ribbed. Flattened and somewhat blocky. Orange flesh. Great for roasting and decorating.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Kabocha Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
The Japanese heirloom variety. Cute, small, green. It looks like a mini-pumpkin. It is known for its chestnut flavor and creamy texture. It has rugged skin with faint white stripes and spots. It's sweeter than butternut squash. It has orange flesh.
Available in the Fall & Winter.
Seeds to buy on Amazon.
Available in the Fall & Winter.
Seeds to buy on Amazon.
Kakai Pumpkin
| Photo: Pixabay |
Exceptionally beautiful. Small to medium. Yellow, green, or orange with gorgeous green and light-green streaks. It has a hard, long handle. It has yellow to light-orange delicious flesh. Its hull-less seeds are ideal for roasting.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Long & large, green to dark green with faint light-green streaks. Skin is smooth, sometimes slightly ribbed. It looks like a giant peanut. It can be slightly bent. It can weigh between 20-50 lb. The flesh is bright orange and sweet.
Available in the Summer.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Available in the Summer.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Long Island Cheese Pumpkin
North America staple. Heirloom.
Medium to large, flattened, wide, ribbed. It looks like a wheel of cheese. Color range: light orange, dull orange, mildew orange, pinkish-orange. The flesh is bright orange & ideal for pies.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Lakota Squash
| Photos: Rareseeds |
Small, drop-shaped. Has slightly ribbed, rugged skin. It's bright orange, often with barely visible whitish spots and with green streaks at the bottom. It has a sweet, nutty flavor. It's a great fall decor piece, too.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on at Rareseeds.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on at Rareseeds.
Loche Squash
| Photo by Miguel Alan Córdova Silva ( MiguelAlanCS ). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. |
Peru heirloom. Oblong or pear-shaped. It has mildew-green or mildew-blue skin with bumps here and there. It has bright yellow flesh. Ideal for making creamy soups.
Available in the Winter.
Very rare in other parts of the world.
Available in the Winter.
Very rare in other parts of the world.
Lagenaria
Lagenaria is a type of gourd. It contains six species: Lagenaria abyssinica,Lagenaria breviflora, Lagenaria guineensis, Lagenaria rufa, Lagenaria siceraria, Lagenaria sphaerica. They are all tropical fruits and they grow in Africa. The most popular of them Lagenaria siceraria (calabash /bottle gourd) is domesticated and grown outside of Africa.
Pictured:Lagenaria siceraria (calabash /bottle gourd), Photo: Pixabay
Musquee de Provence
| Photo: Pixabay |
A French Heirloom. Usually, weighs around 20 lb. Exceptionally beautiful: flattened with deep ribs (it looks like a wheel of cheese). It's green and grey when immature, brown when fully mature. Full of orange, thick flesh.
To buy in Autumn.
Seeds available on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
To buy in Autumn.
Seeds available on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
Please note: Mini Musk is the smaller variant of Musquee de Provence.
Marina Di Chioggia
| Pixabay |
Unique heirloom pumpkin. Small to medium. Flattened, often turban shaped. Its skin is completely covered with bumps and warts. Color range: grey, blue, green, deep- green. It has yellow-orange sweet flesh.
Available in the Fall season.
You can buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
Available in the Fall season.
You can buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
Marrow
| Photo: Pixabay |
Available in the late Summer.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Mandan Squash
| Photo: William Schlegel |
A Native American Heirloom. Originally, grown by Mandan Indians. It's small (around 2 lbs), round, and fairly smooth. It has white or cream-colored skin with deep-green streaks and spots. Its flesh is light-colored. It's extremely rare today.
You can buy seeds at Sandhill Preservation Center
& at the Museum of The Fur Trade.
You can buy seeds at Sandhill Preservation Center
& at the Museum of The Fur Trade.
Musquee de Maroc
| Photo: Rareseeds |
A Moroccan Heirloom. Small to medium. Round, oblong, or pear-shaped. It has dull-orange or buff skin covered with green and yellow warts.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon or at Rareseeds website.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon or at Rareseeds website.
Moranga Squash
Photo: Rareseeds
Hard to find heirloom squash from Brazil. Medium-sized, wide, flattened, deeply ribbed. Salmon or pink-colored.
Available in the Fall.
Seeds to buy at Rareseeds website.
Seeds to buy at Rareseeds website.
Nanticoke Squash
| Photo: Experimental Farm Work |
North American heirloom. Its name comes from Nanticoke People that inhabited the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware (amongst others).
It's available in a variety of colors (blue, pink, grey, brown, orange, dull-orange, pinkish, white, green, red, few of the above mixed together) and shapes (turban-like, round, round and slightly flattened, resembling a wheel of cheese,drop-shaped). Some may have warts here and there. They can be cooked, baked, or used as decor pieces.
Seeds available at Experimental Farm Work.
It's available in a variety of colors (blue, pink, grey, brown, orange, dull-orange, pinkish, white, green, red, few of the above mixed together) and shapes (turban-like, round, round and slightly flattened, resembling a wheel of cheese,drop-shaped). Some may have warts here and there. They can be cooked, baked, or used as decor pieces.
Seeds available at Experimental Farm Work.
Orange Kabocha Squash
| Photo: Pixabay |
Japanese heirloom. Small, round. It has orange rugged skin with white stripes (sometimes barely visible). The flesh is bright orange (or yellow) and sweet.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Palav Kadu Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Heirloom. Asian variety. It looks like a giant peanut. It has brown smooth skin with faint white spots & streaks. It has very sweet flesh. Grows up to
15 lbs.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
15 lbs.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
Queensland Blue Pumpkin
| Photo: Pixabay |
Heirloom. Australian variety. Colors may vary (from deep-blue and green to grey & mildew-blue). It's deeply ribbed. Round or blocky, sometimes turban-shaped. Can grow up to 10lbs. Good for roasting, very sweet. Exceptional decor piece.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
Red Kuri Squash or Hokkaido Squash
| Photos: Pixabay |
Heirloom. Small to medium, orange-colored, drop-shaped with a slightly crooked handle. Its skin is rugged with almost invisible spots and stripes here & there. It has a mellow flavor and it's great for roasting.
You can buy it in the Fall.
Seeds on Amazon.
You can buy it in the Fall.
Seeds on Amazon.
Red Warty Thing Pumpkin
| Photo: Pixabay |
Heirloom. Cross between ordinary pumpkin and a red hubbard squash. Its skin is orange to bright orange and completely covered with warts. The flesh is orange, sweet, ideal for making pies. Weighs up to 20lbs.
To buy in Autumn.
Seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
To buy in Autumn.
Seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
Ronde De Nice Squash
| Photos: Rareseeds |
French heirloom. Small to medium. Bottle-shaped or round. Smooth mottled skin (green & light green). Tender flesh.
Available in the Summer.
Seeds to buy on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
Available in the Summer.
Seeds to buy on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
Snake Gourd
| Chinese Python Snake Bean, Photos: Rareseeds |
Heirloom. Grows and it's cultivated in Tropics and Subtropics. It resembles a cucumber. It's long (up to 6,5 feet/ 200cm), sometimes twisted all along or crooked at the bottom (it can be straight if it's grown on a trellis). Its skin is light green or green (sometimes with white stripes) when immature, and bright orange to red when it matures. Its flowers are exceptionally delicate and beautiful: they're white with fluffs at the end of each petal. Fluffs are exposed only during nighttime when flowers open. The flesh of the gourd is light-green when the fruit is immature, and red when it reaches maturity. Young snake gourd is often fried & added to curries and soups. The reddish pulp of the mature fruit is also used for cooking.
Please note: Immature snake gourd may have a slightly bitter taste and foul odor. Both disappear after cooking. It's not a sign of cucurbit poisoning, but caution is advised.
Available in the Summer.
You can buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
Please note: Immature snake gourd may have a slightly bitter taste and foul odor. Both disappear after cooking. It's not a sign of cucurbit poisoning, but caution is advised.
Available in the Summer.
You can buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds website.
Spaghetti Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Medium and large. Oval-shaped and yellow-colored. Its flesh becomes stringy after cooking. It resembles spaghetti and it's often used as a healthy pasta substitute.
Available in the Fall & Winter.
Buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
Available in the Fall & Winter.
Buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
Straightneck Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Heirloom. Medium-sized, club-shaped (sometimes slightly crooked at the top). It has bright-yellow skin (smooth or rugged). Its yellow flesh is delicate and watery.
It's available in the Summer.
Seeds to buy on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
It's available in the Summer.
Seeds to buy on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
Sponge Gourd/ Luffa Aegyptiaca
| Photos: Rareseeds |
It looks almost identical to the cucumber but is usually around 12 inches long. It can be consumed when young. When mature it is dried and used to make scrubbing sponges.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
Please, note that there's also a luffa vegetable (from the cucumber family) that is used to make luffa sponges.
Sucrine Du Berry Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Originated in France. It looks like a giant peanut. Its skin is smooth (with almost invisible ribbing), light-brown, and dull-orange colored with some green undertones. Its flesh is bright orange and sweet.
Harvested in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
Harvested in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
Sweet Meat Squash
| Photos: Rareseeds |
An Oregon heirloom.
Large. Usually, round and flattened or drop-shaped (sometimes, turban-like). It has uneven skin covered with some brownish, stem-like bumps and spots. It has moderate to no ribbing. Color range: from deep-sea green to light blue & grey. It has a bright orange, sweet flesh.
It's available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Large. Usually, round and flattened or drop-shaped (sometimes, turban-like). It has uneven skin covered with some brownish, stem-like bumps and spots. It has moderate to no ribbing. Color range: from deep-sea green to light blue & grey. It has a bright orange, sweet flesh.
It's available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Shishigatani or Toonas Makino Pumpkin
| Photos: Rareseeds |
Originated in Japan circa 1804-1818.
Unique and beautiful. Peanut-shaped, deeply ribbed. It has warty/bumpy skin. Color range: green, dark green, mildew-green when young; tan, dull-orange- when mature. It has bright yellow flesh.
Ready to harvest in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon and at Rareseeds.
Unique and beautiful. Peanut-shaped, deeply ribbed. It has warty/bumpy skin. Color range: green, dark green, mildew-green when young; tan, dull-orange- when mature. It has bright yellow flesh.
Ready to harvest in the Fall.
You can buy seeds on Amazon and at Rareseeds.
Tokyo Blue Squash or Tokyo Pumpkin
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Small to medium, round, or drop-shaped (often resembles a Red Kuri squash).
Green with blue and grey undertones.
It has a sweet-scented, bright-yellow flesh.
Its skin is somewhat rough.
Available in the Fall.
Thai Kang Kob Pumpkin
Medium-sized, flattened, heavily ribbed, covered with warts and bumps.
Deep-yellow to mildew-blue. Turns dull-orange in storage.
Full-flavored orange flesh.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Deep-yellow to mildew-blue. Turns dull-orange in storage.
Full-flavored orange flesh.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Tondo Scuro Di Piacenza Squash
| Photos: Rareseeds |
Small, round, or oval-shaped.
Smooth, deep-green, and light-yellow mottled skin. It has light green flesh.
Available in the Summer.
Seeds to buy at Rareseeds.
Smooth, deep-green, and light-yellow mottled skin. It has light green flesh.
Available in the Summer.
Seeds to buy at Rareseeds.
Tatume Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Mexican heirloom. Loves the hot climate.
Small, round, or oval-shaped.
It has a smooth mottled light- green & white rind when it's young. It becomes deep-green or deep-green & white when it matures. Its yellow flesh is perfect for cooking, grilling, and frying.
Available in the Summer, Fall, sometimes even in the Winter.
Seeds to buy on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
Small, round, or oval-shaped.
It has a smooth mottled light- green & white rind when it's young. It becomes deep-green or deep-green & white when it matures. Its yellow flesh is perfect for cooking, grilling, and frying.
Available in the Summer, Fall, sometimes even in the Winter.
Seeds to buy on Amazon & at Rareseeds.
Turban Squash
| Photos: Pixabay |
Beautiful looking. Medium-sized. Often used as a decor piece. It can be cooked, but it doesn't have a very sharp taste.
It's acorn-shaped with a flattened base. It's multi-colored. The base is usually red, orange, green, or yellow.
The turban is often green, yellow, and orange with white streaks or stripes (it's also ribbed with warts and bumps here and there).
Available in the Fall & Winter.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
It's acorn-shaped with a flattened base. It's multi-colored. The base is usually red, orange, green, or yellow.
The turban is often green, yellow, and orange with white streaks or stripes (it's also ribbed with warts and bumps here and there).
Available in the Fall & Winter.
You can buy seeds on Amazon.
The Ol Zebs Pumpkin
| Photo: Sustainable Seed Company |
Heirloom variety. Sometimes round, but usually oblong-shaped. It has a bright-orange, densely ribbed rind and a long, green, sometimes curvy, handle. It weighs up to 30 pounds. It is perfect for carving and decorating purposes, but it's also used to make pies.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Sustainable Seed Company website.
Available in the Fall.
You can buy seeds at Sustainable Seed Company website.
Tahitian Melon Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Butternut squash type. It's a Tahitian heirloom. It has a long (often curved) neck and wide bottom. It usually weighs between 12-20 pounds, but it can reach up to 40 pounds. Its fragrant flesh is so sweet that juices often caramelize while baking. It's perfect for making pies, but its interesting shapes make it a great decor piece, too. Its skin is dull orange, orange, or salmon-colored.
Available in the Fall. You can buy seeds on Amazon and at Rareseeds website.
Available in the Fall. You can buy seeds on Amazon and at Rareseeds website.
Tromboncino (Zucchetta or
Zucchino Rampicante)
Zucchino Rampicante)
| Zucchino Rampicante Squash, Photo: Rareseeds |
Funny looking (very crooked). It has a long neck and a bulbous bottom. It's light green with pale whitish stripes when young, and yellow when mature. It has smooth skin. Sometimes it looks like an expanding drop of water, other times it's shaped like a swan or a snake. It's sweeter than zucchini and its neck is seed-free. Available in the Summer and Winter!
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
You can buy seeds at Rareseeds.
Upper Ground Sweet Potato Squash
| Photo: Southern Exposure Seed Exchange |
Weighs up to 20 pounds. Round or pear-shaped, tanned skin (usually ribbed), orange flesh. Tates like sweet potatoes.
Available in the Fall.
Seeds to buy at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
Available in the Fall.
Seeds to buy at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
Varieties:
Choctaw Sweet Potato:
Heirloom variety. Very rare today. Oval-shaped, pear-shaped, or oblong. Dull orange, smooth skin with slight ribbing. 5 to 15 pounds. Creamy flesh that tastes like sweet potatoes. They can be harvested in the Summer, too.
Heirloom variety. Very rare today. Oval-shaped, pear-shaped, or oblong. Dull orange, smooth skin with slight ribbing. 5 to 15 pounds. Creamy flesh that tastes like sweet potatoes. They can be harvested in the Summer, too.
Vitamin Pumpkin (a variety from Russia):
Brownish, oblong with smooth skin and moderate ribbing. The flesh is cream or yellow.
Brownish, oblong with smooth skin and moderate ribbing. The flesh is cream or yellow.
Miller's Cove:
U.S heirloom. Medium and large. Up to 26 pounds.Round and bulge-out with ribs.Yellowish, smooth skin. Thick, sweet, orange flesh.
U.S heirloom. Medium and large. Up to 26 pounds.Round and bulge-out with ribs.Yellowish, smooth skin. Thick, sweet, orange flesh.
Tennessee Old Fashioned Vining squash:
Usually, oval-shaped (sometimes round), can weigh between 12-15 lbs (sometimes up to 33). It's salmon or mildew-salmon colored. It has orange flesh.
Usually, oval-shaped (sometimes round), can weigh between 12-15 lbs (sometimes up to 33). It's salmon or mildew-salmon colored. It has orange flesh.
| Winter Luxury Pie Pumpkin, Photo: Rareseeds |
Small to medium. It has orange skin covered with white netting (it makes it appear paler). It's round (almost perfect circle) with a long & hard handle. It looks exceptional as a decor piece, but it's most known for its smooth flesh which makes for incredible pies!
To buy in the Fall.
Seeds are available on Amazon and on Rareseeds website.
To buy in the Fall.
Seeds are available on Amazon and on Rareseeds website.
| Akshay.paramatmuni1987 (left photo), মৌচুমী (bottom right photo), Zhangzhugang (upper right photo), montage by User:RoRo - File:Winter Melons on the vine in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India 02.jpg (left photo), File:Kumura.JPG (bottom right photo, detail), File:Benincasa pruriens in Guangfeng 2012.10.27 12-38-13.jpg (upper right photo) CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Medium to large. Tall and blocky. It has a white fuzzy coating covering its rind and sweet, light flesh when immature. The coating becomes waxy (hence the name) and fuzziness disappears when the fruit matures. Flesh loses its sweetness and tastes bland.
Available in the Fall & Winter.
Available in the Fall & Winter.
Yokohama Squash
| Photo: Rareseeds |
Rare variety. It's flattened, uneven, and deeply ribbed. Imploded at the top. Its skin is rough, blue to deep-green with warts and bumps here and there. The flesh is yellow or yellow-orange.
Available in the Fall & Winter.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
Available in the Fall & Winter.
You can buy seeds on Rareseeds website.
Read more about pumpkin types:
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