How to Choose Fall-Harvest Cucurbits

If you have grown or thought about growing pumpkins, winter squashes, and gourds, you have likely noticed how many varieties there are, and with so many available, wondered how to choose which ones to grow. Here at Hensley’s, cucurbits are one of our specialties. We offer a wide diversity — some strictly ornamental, some strictly edible, and many that serve both purposes — in all, more than 60 varieties.

For market gardeners, small farms and homesteaders trying to narrow the list to varieties that suit their operation, the big questions are whether and where you'll sell them, where you'll grow them, and how you'll store them. Experienced growers lean on these three considerations when picking fall pumpkins, squash and gourds:

1.   Sizing for your markets
2.   Edible, ornamental or both
3.   How much space you have

If you farm for a living, match fruit size to where you'll sell and what your customers want.

Pick from a range of sizes, shapes and colors to suit your needs.

If you mostly sell at fairs or farmers' markets, you probably don't want to haul huge pumpkins that eat up room in your truck.

And most shoppers don't want to carry heavy pumpkins to their cars unless they've brought a wagon or you have someone to help. Plenty of growers bring a few showy giants to market to brighten the booth and draw people in, but most market sales will be small to medium items under 10 pounds that are easy to carry. Small fruit packs far more product into the space a few big ones take, and gourds, pie pumpkins and other small items look just as striking when grouped on a table or piled in a bin.

If you run an on-farm market, particularly one built around fall activities, you'll likely want an eye-catching display of big pumpkins and squash.

Giant pumpkins, such as the large white 'Polar Bear', make a fall display centerpiece that passersby won't miss. Some customers buying décor at the farmstand will also want a large or extra-large pumpkin. Have staff pick anything over 30 pounds and bring it to the stand so customers don't strain their backs. For pick-your-own, leave a range of 10- to 30-pound pumpkins in the field for people to find, and consider offering carts or wagons to haul them. At the stand you'll have plenty of chances to sell smaller pumpkins, squash and gourds, so grow a full spread of sizes and shapes to offer something for everyone.

Strictly decorative. Most large Jack-o'-lantern pumpkins are mainly decorative, since they don't build up the sugars people expect in a good eating pumpkin. Some oddly colored or shaped specialty pumpkins are also best used for decoration. And while a few gourds are eaten in certain cuisines, most are purely ornamental.

Grow varieties that are both ornamental and edible for the best return.

Edible ornamentals. Plenty of specialty pumpkins taste great, though, so they do double duty. Many people like that they can decorate with them and then cook them. Dual-purpose varieties come in lots of colors and shapes, like the plump, deeply ribbed 'Musque de Provence' and the pink, peanut-warted 'Galeux d'Eysines.'

Pie pumpkin types like 'Winter Luxury', and winter squash types like 'Jester', 'Winter Sweet', and 'Sunshine' are all excellent eating. (See what makes winter squash and pumpkins taste good for the traits that make some squash and pumpkins far tastier than others.)

CSA members mostly want edible squash and pumpkins, but dual-purpose types add interest and value. Grow smaller edibles if you deliver shares, larger ones if members pick up at the farm, and in that case have a cart or helpers ready to get shares to cars.

Another difference between edible and ornamental varieties is that edible squash usually sells by the pound, whereas ornamentals usually sell by the piece. A small ornamental pumpkin or gourd might bring a dollar or two, while an edible pumpkin or squash of the same size, priced by weight, usually brings more.

Use our Fall cucurbit charts to compare spacing, vine length, disease resistance, days to maturity, typical fruit per plant, weight range, color and more.

Space matters a lot to cucurbit growers, both in the field and in storage.

Fruit size. Every field-grown vining crop needs lots of room, and big pumpkins and squash need the most. Generally, the bigger the fruit, the larger the plant and the fewer the fruits; smaller fruit means more of them. The space that yields one 65-pound 'Polar Bear' pumpkin could produce five 'New England Pie' pumpkins of about 4 pounds each.

Vine length. Vine length also hints at how much room a variety needs, which is why it's listed in our fall cucurbit charts. Shorter vines appeal to growers with limited land and to anyone trying to get the most from their acreage. The charts help you weigh size and yield against disease resistance, color, shape and other traits to find the mix of varieties that uses your space best.

Post-harvest handling. Storage is the last thing to think about. With plenty of storage for edibles and a long selling season, you can choose long-keeping varieties. If space is tight, keeping quality matters less, and you might focus on varieties that taste best soon after harvest. See our winter squash curing and storage chart to compare typical storage times by type.

Thinking through these points brings real focus to your fall plans. When you weigh size, use and space needs against your markets and your growing and storage space, deciding which fall cucurbits to plant becomes much simpler.

• For the traits that make winter squash and pumpkins most flavorful, see what makes winter squash and pumpkins taste good.
• For curing and storage times and when to eat each type of winter squash, see the Hensley’s Winter Squash Curing & Storage Chart.

Fall-Harvest Cucurbit Comparison Charts

• Jack-o'-lantern pumpkins interactive chart
• Pie pumpkins chart (PDF)
• Specialty pumpkins interactive chart
• White pumpkins chart (PDF)
• Winter squash types and varieties interactive chart