The varieties & types at a glance

The three best types of pumpkin for the garden and balcony

There are five species within the genus, of which the following three have established themselves for cultivation in the garden and on the balcony:

• Garden pumpkin with a multifaceted shape from long and narrow to round and flat
• Musk pumpkin with the cream-colored skin and the aromatic taste
• Giant pumpkins, the giants with what it takes to set a world record

Based on these species, gardeners around the world have developed a wide variety of fascinating strains.

Delicious delicacies

Pattison pumpkins are a feast for the senses. When they are young and freshly harvested, connoisseurs can even eat them together with the tender skin. Butternut squash is no less than that. Only a few seeds impair the refined taste experience. The Muscade de Provence pumpkin variety scores as a sweet and nutty treat.

Pumpkin varieties that set the tone

They are all edible. Some specimens also throw a decorative shape into the balance. The Turkish turban is a prime example with a flat look and thick bulges. Bottle pumpkins, whose 5 mm thick shell is carved like wood, are a pretty ornament.

Perfect candidates for the bucket culture

Ambitious pumpkin gardeners are not afraid to cultivate the plants on the balcony to cultivate. The following varieties are available:

• Baby Bear: 10 to 15 cm tall and very productive with 6-8 fruits
• Small Wonder F1: the small yield miracle with 600 gram light pumpkins
• Unique F1: bright orange, distinctive shape, high tolerance to powdery mildew
• Stripetti: striped classic for the balcony with fruits weighing 1-2 kilograms

Giant pumpkins with potential

Where is it written that the biggest pumpkins always come from overseas? The following varieties have the vigor that the next record holder will be sown in your garden.

• Atlantic Giant pumpkin with orange skin, delicious pulp and an impressive weight of several hundred kilograms
• Giant pumpkin Red hundredweight, which hides a delicate flesh under a deep red color
• Giant Pumpkin Yellow Hundreds, a feast for the eyes in the bed with a huge, light yellow habit
• Hokkaido pumpkin varieties, the incarnation of the classic giant pumpkin in many shades of color

The best pumpkin varieties to scare you on Halloween

What a lot of fun, turning a pumpkin from the garden into a creepy lantern for Halloween. The tasty pulp provides the necessary energy for work.

The classic par excellence for this purpose is the 'Jack O'Lantern' variety with its rich yellow skin and the ideal weight of 5 to 6 kilograms. The award-winning Pumpkin Autumn Gold F1 variety is in a head-to-head race with the top dogs in this regard.

Tips & Tricks

The largest pumpkin in the world weighed in at an impressive 933 kilos. Bred became the splendid specimen - how could it be otherwise? - in the USA by an ambitious farmer. As a reward, he received prize money of 10,000 euros and a large parade in his honor.