A Guide to the Different Types of Pumpkins & How to Pick the Right One

I love pumpkins. And guess what? It’s fall which means that it’s actually appropriate to have pumpkins decorating your home.

But this also means that I have an excuse to actually write about pumpkins and create a mini-guide to some that you might want to have in your yard.

There are so many decorative opportunities with the different shapes and sizes and so many ways to cook them. And this list of the different types of pumpkins will help you figure out the best ones for your home.

So whether you want to go with something bright and bold or dark and elegant, there are so many options to choose from. So dive into the world of pumpkins and see what works best for you!

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Tips on How to Pick the Right Pumpkin

General Tips for Picking the Right Pumpkins

• Make sure to check pumpkins for soft spots, bruises, and cuts. Even a small cut can let in disease and once it starts to rot, it happens quickly.
• When you pick a pumpkin, never pick it up by the stem. It can easily break off and open the pumpkin up to diseases.
• If picking the pumpkin off the vine yourself, make sure to pick it when the vine has dried up and the pumpkin is fully finished turning color. 

Picking Pumpkins for Eating

• Their names will usually allude to the fact that they’re meant for desserts, such as ‘Small Sugar Pumpkin.’
• These pumpkin varieties usually weigh around 4-8 pounds.
• Other pumpkin types will include, ‘Ghost Rider,’ ‘Baby Pam,’ ‘Autumn Gold,’ & ‘Rouge Vif D’Etampes’ (this last one is harder to shell).
• Crookneck pumpkins are easier to peel and aren’t stringy which might make them a great option for things like roasting, pureeing, or steaming.
• You can roast the seeds of any kind of pumpkin.
• Don’t be put off by a pumpkin with a dull shell; the flesh of the pumpkin is still good and will get even sweeter.

Picking Pumpkins for Carving

• You want a round pumpkin, not an oblong one since those are more stringy.
• Tap the pumpkin and look for a hollow sound. This means that the walls aren’t too thick and the light can properly get through and show your carving details. You can also determine this by the weight; if it’s really heavy, then that’s a good sign that it’s too thick.
• Avoid pumpkins that have a shell that feels as hard as wood. These can be difficult and actually dangerous to try to cut through.
• Make sure that your pumpkin is able to sit upright so that it doesn’t go rolling around when you’re trying to display it.

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A Guide on the Different Kinds of Pumpkins

1. Jarrahdale

What You Need to Know: 

1. Delicious and not very stringy, they’re a great pop of color for your home.
2. Other similar varieties: Kakai, Blue Lakota, & Blue Max
3. If you want to go for that more moody fall look, and you like those greenish blue hues, then this is one of the best pumpkin species to get.

2. Sunlight Pumpkins

What You Need to Know: Not too big and not too small, it makes for a great sized pumpkin that’ll add some brightness to your porch. BUT if you want a larger variety, then Mellow Yellow is the way to go.

3. Crystal Star

What You Need to Know: White pumpkins tend to change color when they age. However, this one keeps its color throughout its life, allowing you to have a ghoulish white hue for your carved pumpkin.

4. Jack-Be-Little

What You Need to Know: 

1. Edible and become more orange as they ripen. 
2. Other similar varieties include Sweetie Pie & Baby Boo.
3. Doesn’t take up too much space, so this is one of those kinds of pumpkin that’s great for small apartments.

5. One Too Many Pumpkin

What You Need to Know: A uniquely pretty pumpkin that’s great to decorate your front porch with. But they’re also great for carving & eating!

6. Cinderella

What You Need to Know: 

1. Moist and sweet which makes it great for pies, but it can also be used as a beautiful decor piece.
2. Also, looks great when stacked with like-pumpkins (or different varieties).
3. If you’re looking for decorative pumpkin varieties, then this should be on your list. It adds such a beautiful pop of color to your home.

7. Flat White Boer Ford

What You Need to Know: This one is great for pies as it has a small seed cavity (which means more pumpkin for cooking).

8. Field Trip F1 Hybrid

What You Need to Know: They weight around 5-7 Ib. and are great for kids to grab when at the pumpkin patch.

They’re those iconic fall spherical pumpkins that are an easy way to decorate.

9. Porcelain Doll Pink Pumpkin

What You Need to Know: These pink pumpkins were created for a good cause; to spread awareness of breast cancer. And the sale of these pumpkins goes towards a foundation that helps with breast cancer research.

10. New England Cheddar

What You Need to Know: Has a high sugar content which makes it great for pies.

Also, it’s on the top of my list of different pumpkins to buy and decorate with. It looks like it’s straight out of a storybook!

11. Musee de Provence

What You Need to Know: Rich & dense which is great for pies, but also great to display with seasonal flowers.

So if you want a pumpkin variety that’s bulging and broad and looks great on your porch, then this is a good one to get!

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I hope this very simple pumpkin guide was able to help you decide what kinds of pumpkin to get this fall. And if you have any favorite pumpkins that weren’t shown, then let me know in the comments down below! I’d love to hear about them. 🙂