[Updated on September 5, 2020] Did you know there were at least 142 types of pumpkins? I didn’t! I knew there were lots of pumpkin varieties because they are everywhere this time of year and for me, they are hard to resist!
You see, I have this “thing” I call Pumpkin Fever. It starts… ummm…late September and by mid-October, it has completely consumed me! I can’t go anywhere without buying a pumpkin during Pumpkin Season, whether they are real or the retail variety (as in faux). I guess I could have worse afflictions than Pumpkin Fever – for example, I could have Skeleton Fever or Zombie Fever and then my home would really look entirely different! Or, I could be that “cat lady who lives down the street” with Black Cat Fever![convertkit form=5280751]
Anyway, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite pumpkin photos from the last several years to illustrate some of the 142 types of pumpkins there are in the universe. The reason I say “some” photos is because I’ve yet to come across all the 142+ types of pumpkins out there. But now that I’m retired, I’ve added that to my bucket list – see all 142 types of pumpkins before I kick the bucket. I think that’s a worthy bucket list addition because that means I’ll be visiting many more pumpkin patches over the next few years and that’s not a bad thing in my book!
This is one of my favorite pumpkin patches – Bates Nut Farm – in northeastern San Diego County. I’ve lost count as to the number of times I have been to Bates Nut Farm because they not only have an awesome pumpkin patch every year but have other great events throughout the year, like craft fairs and special exhibits. With over 100 acres in a beautiful valley, Bates Nut Farm is a truly special place. And, the drive to get there is so beautiful – a windy, tree-lined rural road in a peaceful valley. I’ve written about my numerous trips to Bates Nut Farm time and again on this blog, so the various links aren’t all to Bates Nut Farm’s website, but rather to other blog posts about one of our visits to this beautiful farm.
Don’t you love this adorable scarecrow painted on a wooden cable spool smack dab in the middle of a pumpkin patch? So cute! What a great way to recycle, right?
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Pumpkins come in all shapes sizes and colors! From the iconic orange pumpkin to white, blue, and even green varieties, there is so much diversity among pumpkin types. In this article, we will explore pictures of 45+ different types of pumpkins, learning a bit about each one along the way.
Popular Orange Pumpkins
The pumpkin that likely comes to mind first is the typical round, ribbed, bright orange pumpkin. These are great for carving jack-o-lanterns or using in fall recipes.
Jack-O-Lantern – This is the quintessential carving pumpkin. It has a strong stem, is ribbed, and is a nice round shape. These average 15-20 pounds.
Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin
Connecticut Field – An heirloom pumpkin dating back centuries. This is one of the most classic varieties with its round shape and deep orange color. These range from 5-30 pounds.
Howden – This variety defined the look of a Halloween pumpkin with its deep orange color, ribbing, and sturdy stem. They range from 18-30 pounds.
Dickinson – A popular heirloom pumpkin, these are pale orange and cylindrical in shape. They average 10-15 pounds but can reach 40 pounds.
Cinderella – This variety resembles the pumpkin carriage from the Cinderella fairy tale. They are orange, ribbed, and flattened in shape.
White Pumpkins
White pumpkins offer a fun alternative to the usual orange. These ghostly white varieties are perfect for Halloween décor or to light up as jack-o-lanterns.
Baby Boo – A mini white pumpkin weighing just a couple pounds. Baby Boos are adorable for fall displays.
Casper – A classic white pumpkin ranging from medium to quite large in size. These have an ivory color and smooth skin.
Lumina – Similar to Casper, these are white, smooth pumpkins that weigh 10-15 pounds on average. Lumina pumpkins are also called ghost or full moon pumpkins.
Porcelain Doll – Aptly named for its smooth, glossy pinkish-white skin, these weigh around 20 pounds each.
Blue Pumpkins
Add an unexpected pop of color with blue pumpkins! From powder blue to a deeper royal blue, these make for unique jack-o-lanterns.
Blue Doll – A hybrid variety with deep blue ribbed skin and orange flesh inside. These average 15-20 pounds.
Blue Prince – A flattened pumpkin with cool blue skin marked by orange ribbing and sutures.
Jarrahdale – An Australian heirloom pumpkin with a blue-gray color and flattened, ribbed shape.
Green Pumpkins
For something really unique, consider a green pumpkin! Shades range from dark hunter green to a sage green color.
Kakai – Tiny green and orange striped pumpkins from Japan. These are best known for their tasty seeds.
Galeux D’Eysines – A French heirloom variety with salmon-peach skin covered in warty bumps. These are 10-20 pounds.
Green Monster – As the name suggests, this variety is green and monster-like with warty skin. They look almost alien!
Yokohama – This Japanese variety has a blue-green color that is nearly black. They are ribbed and flattened in shape.
Multi-Colored Pumpkins
Some of the most unique pumpkins feature multiple colors swirled together for a eye-catching look.
Fairytale – These large pumpkins are a mix of green and orange. The contrast makes them stand out.
Jarrahdale – An Australian heirloom with grayish-blue skin mixed with sections of orange.
Knucklehead – Covered in warts and bumps, these have splotches of green on their orange skin.
Kamo Kamo – An heirloom from New Zealand with orange skin flecked with green and orange ribbing.
Rouge Vif D’Etampes – This French variety has vivid reddish-orange skin with heavy ribbing.
Small & Mini Pumpkins
Fun sized pumpkins are great for decorating and easy to handle for little ones.
Baby Pam – A hybrid variety that is a deep orange miniature pumpkin weighing a few pounds.
Jack-Be-Little – Mini pumpkins that look just like their larger counterparts, but are only about a half pound each.
Baby Bear – A round mini pumpkin that is a deep orange color. They are about 2 pounds each.
Sweet Dumpling – Adorable small pumpkins with white and green striped skin, weighing about a pound each.
Giant Pumpkins
Think BIG with giant pumpkins! These behemoths can reach astonishing sizes thanks to careful growing techniques.
Atlantic Giant – This variety holds the world record for the largest pumpkin. They can surpass 1,000 pounds!
Big Max – Another giant variety that can reach over 100 pounds. Big Max pumpkins are an impressive sight.
Prize Winner – With extra care and optimal growing conditions, these can swell to enormity. Watch them expand daily in the fall!
Unique & Rare Pumpkins
Finally, check out some of the most unique, rare and specialized pumpkin varieties.
Musque de Provence – This heirloom French pumpkin has a smooth, lobed shape. The shell is a rich brown color when ripe.
Long Island Cheese – A flattened, buff-colored pumpkin that was popularized on Long Island, NY. It resembles a wheel of cheese.
Marina di Chioggia – This Italian heirloom variety has a gorgeous blue-green color with a turban shape.
Australian Butter – As the name hints, this is a pumpkin from down under. It has a pale orange color and creamy smooth flesh.
There are so many wonderful pumpkin varieties beyond the typical orange jack-o-lantern types. Explore different colors, shapes, sizes and textures to find your perfect pumpkins. Hopefully these photos have provided pumpkin inspiration for fall decorating, carving, and cooking!
Large and Giant Pumpkin Varieties
Now on to the Big Mac Pumpkins – the ones that take our breath away (literally, have you ever tried to lift one?). They weigh between 50 to 200 pounds and I wrote a whole post about how to carry a pumpkin just in their honor!
This is a field of Big Mac pumpkins at Bates Nut Farm. The photo is misleading because there are no other, smaller, pumpkins nearby to gauge the size of these monsters in the field. Quite large, check out the photo below for a size reference.
This is one of my great-nieces, Princess Sweetie Pie, sitting on one of these Big Mac Pumpkins when she was about 5 years old.
And, here’s a giant Big Mac pumpkin on a bale of hay at Bates Nut Farm.
More Big Mac Pumpkins in a field at Bates Nut Farm. This is proof that Bates Nut Farm does, indeed, raise pumpkins; but the demand is so high because they are such a popular destination, they also truck in other pumpkins.
And, even more Big Mac pumpkins at Bates Nut Farm with Wee-Be-Little pumpkins on a table in the background.
Here are several Big Mac Pumpkins in a lovely old blue wooden cart…so pretty!
Not to be ignored is the Atlantic Giant Pumpkin, this one balanced on bales of hay with a Red Warty Thing Pumpkin on the left alongside a Turban Pumpkin and on the right appear to be Fairytale Pumpkins. Growing one of these would truly be a project and the talk of the neighborhood! Just kidding – about the neighborhood thing. If you are, indeed, serious about growing an Atlantic Giant Pumpkin, just know that they grow to weigh 200 to 500 pounds! So, give yourself plenty of room (as in acreage) or this monster will take up your entire front or back yard!
And if real pumpkins aren’t your thing, you can buy velvet pumpkins or felt pumpkins in the store at Bates Nut Farm…
Or other decorative fake pumpkins…so many choices!
A Plethora of Pumpkins
This is my blue wheelbarrow full of pumpkins at Bates Nut Farm. The blue one in front is a Jarrahdale pumpkin. There are also Rock Star Pumpkins, Munchkin Pumpkins, White Ghost Pumpkins, Baby Boo Pumpkins (the little white ones), and Wee-Be-Little Pumpkins. Oh, I think there is a Pie Pumpkin in there too! Did I miss anything? Remember – at the beginning of this post I did admit to having Pumpkin Fever!
Here’s another blue wheelbarrow full of various pumpkins from one of my pumpkin excursions. Two different years, but I’m guessing you see a theme going on here – I like blue wheelbarrows and I like lots of different pumpkins!
And, this display of pumpkins on a green wooden trailer with stacked hay bales illustrates the wide variety of pumpkins as well as the size difference in all these pumpkins. A Big Mac Pumpkin takes center stage dwarfing the other pumpkins.
And this photo – all I can say is WOW! Such amazing color – a beautiful pile of pumpkins strewn on the ground for all of us to admire.
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