Perusing the pumpkin selections this fall is a perfect time to gather ideas and seeds (if, that is, you can resist roasting and eating them) to plant in your own pumpkin patch next year. Purchase your favorite pumpkins and harvest the seeds for spring planting. Or, for varieties you can't find close to home, consider sourcing seeds online (we've shared sources here). Here are ten of our favorites pumpkin picks; some shine as carvers, some as bakers, but they are all fall decorating keepers.
Have a pumpkin or squash variety you covet?
Photographs by Janet Hall except where noted.
Above: Ghostly white Lumina Pumpkins are great for carving, painting (they have very smooth skin), and baking. The easy-to-grow Pumpkins average 8-to-10 inches in diameter and weigh 10-to-12 pounds. Botanical Interests Lumina White Pumpkin Seeds are $3.49 for a 3 gram packet. Image via Making Lemonade.
Above: The unusally striking Blue Jarrahdale Pumpkin has a flat, ribbed shape and a slate blue-grey color. Not the sweetest tasting squash, it is long lasting as a keeper. They average 6 to 10 pounds. A packet of from 20-35 Heirloom Blue Jarrahdale Pumpkin Seeds is $2.50 thorugh Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.
Above: For a classic Jack-o-lantern shape great for carving, there are several varieties to consider including Connecticut Field Pumpkins, an heirloom variety that grows to 15-to-20 pounds. Considered to be one of the oldest field pumpkins in existence in North America, Connecticut Field Pumpkin Seeds are $1.99 for a packet of 22 from Sustainable Seed Company.
Above: A newer variety, Charisma Pumpkins are a moderate sized (14-to-18 pounds), mildew resistant Jack-o-lantern with a classic round shape great for carving. A packet of 30 Charisma Pumpkin Seeds is $3.45 at Johnny's Seeds.
Above: I love the unusual and exotic shapes of the Turks Turban squash. While they vary in coloring, shape and size, Turban squash weigh on average 5 pounds and measure about 10-inches in diameter; $1.55 for a pack of 12 Turks Turban Squash Seeds at Victory Seeds.
above: Ornamental mini pumpkins are great for fall decor. Burpee offers a Mini Harvest Blend Pumpkin Seed Collection that includes three varieties of mini pumpkins: orange, white, and mottled green, orange and white; $3.95 for a packet of 10 seeds.
Above: A French heirloom pumpkin, the Rouge vif d'Etampes is also called the Cinderella pumpkin because of its whimsical flat, wide shape and deep red-orange hue. A great base for stackables or stand-alone centerpiece. Rouge Vif d'Etampes Heirloom Pumpkin Seeds from Homestead Seeds are packaged in bottles with cork lids. Each bottle is $5.00 and contains a minimum of 15 seeds. Photo via Choit's Run.
Above: I have to confess that the Fairy Tale Pumpkin is a favorite, conjuring up images of mice and glass slippers. A large variety that averages 12-to-18 inches wide, the Fairy Tale Pumpkin is great for decor and baking. A 3-gram packet of Fairy Tale Pumpkins Seeds is $3.05 at the Territorial Seed Company.
Above: Sweet, small and perfectly shaped, Sugar or Pie Pumpkin is not for carving, but is favored for cooking (the best for pies), and is a favorite for tabletop pumpkin decor. The prolific Sugar Pie Pumpkins average approximately 5 pounds; $1.99 for a packet of 40 Sugar Pie Pumpkin Seeds at the Millington Seed Company.
Above: The unusual shapes and colors of Autumn Wing Gourds add a ghoulish note. A jar of 15 Autumn Wing Gourd Seeds is $5.00 at Homestead Seeds.
Above: Harvesting pumpkin seeds is easy. After scooping the seeds from the innards of the pumpkin, rinse and lay out to dry for 24-hours. Store the seeds in envelopes (see our favorite Seed Storage Envelopes) and save until planting time. The Old Farmer's Almanac offers useful Pumpkin Planting and Growing Tips. Short on space? Plant pumpkins along the edge of a garden and direct vine growth across the lawn or patio. Or, plant miniature varieties in large containers or window boxes. Image via Flickr.
See our earlier post, "Halloween Decor, The Evolution" for more ideas.