20 Different Types of Pumpkins You'll See in Patches This Fall
Consider this your guide to the popular gourd.
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There's nothing as quintessential during the fall as displaying the humble pumpkin on your porch. Fun fact: Pumpkins first became eye candy all the way back in the mid-1800s. "People started moving to cities and they'd decorate with pumpkins as a way to connect with farms and nature," says Cindy Ott, author of Pumpkin: The Curious History of an American Icon. In the 1970s, farmers started opening pumpkin patches to bring in business, and Americans got hooked.
If you've visited a local pumpkin patch, you've probably encountered so many different types of pumpkins in various shapes, sizes, and colors. More than 200 varieties of pumpkins grow in the United States, and farmers and seed companies regularly produce new varieties. On this list, you'll find the most common varieties, including orange pumpkins, ghostly white Cotton Candy pumpkins, and even the ginormous Atlantic Giant pumpkins you see at the state fair. While some are ideal for cooking delicious pumpkin recipes, others are perfect for festive fall decorations.
Also, pumpkins aren't just round! They can be short, tall, squat, or broad. 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 the aptly named Wee-Be-Little. The only question is: What will you do with yours this year? So before you head to the patch, scroll through and find the one that you like best!
Once you pick a pumpkin, check out these ideas:
Orange Smoothie
All-America Selections, a group that tests plant seeds, admired its perfect skin and deemed it "all-around great" for carving, painting, and decorating. You can also use this variety for making pie!
Warty Goblin F1 Hybrid
With a name fitting for Halloween and all those bumps, this pumpkin has personality and then some. Its dark orange skin and deep green warts make it ideal for adding variety and interest to displays without needing to decorate it.
Cotton Candy
White pumpkins have become increasingly popular for decorating. The glossy, milky-white exterior with slight ribbing is ideal for painting. You'll typically find them in the 5- to 12-pound range.
Howden
Massachusetts farmer John Howden developed this one in the 1960s. It has a classic shape, deep orange color, and a thick stem―a pumpkin trifecta. Get ready to carve that big ol' jack-o'-lantern because they can grow up to 25 pounds!
Porcelain Doll
A pinkish pumpkin is a nice surprise in displays, not only for the color but also for the almost squared-off appearance. Some people put this one out in October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, too.
Kakai
This variety has signature orange and green stripes, making it attractive for décor. When you're done showing it off, try roasting the large hull-less seeds. They were actually bred for that reason and have a nice nutty flavor.
Fairytale
These deeply lobed, flat pumpkins are straight out of a fairytale but don't worry, they won't magically transform into a carriage at midnight! The heirloom pumpkin is naturally sweet and perfect for culinary uses, whether for cooking or baking into delicious pies.
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. It has a bright reddish-orange skin, though sometimes a rare one comes out light blue!
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.
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.
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.
Polar Bear
Here's another white pumpkin that's perfect for decorating! It's as large as it sounds, too: You can find ones weighing more than 100 pounds. It won't yellow when left outdoors like some other white pumpkins.
Turk's Turban
This specialty pumpkin has a cool shape that make it so much fun for decorating! They typically weigh in at three to five pounds.
Rouge Vif D'Etampes
This gorgeous heirloom from France has a bright orange-red color that stands out in displays. Its sweet flesh is also great in pies.
Long Island Cheese
This heirloom variety has a nice, squat shape and warm brown hue that make it lovely for decorating. But its sweet orange flesh also is great in pies, and it has a long storage time.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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