Tips For Growing White Pumpkins

Growing pumpkins can be an enjoyable experience, but cultivating unique varieties, such as white pumpkins, is even more rewarding. Their stunning shapes and diverse shades of white have attracted many gardeners to take their gardening skills to the next level.

White Pumpkin Varieties

There are now numerous white pumpkin varieties, ranging from the smallest fruits that fit in the palm of your hand to those weighing up to 68 kg. In many cases, specific care, soil conditions, and weather play crucial roles in the final product.

Except for dwarf varieties, most white pumpkins are excellent for cooking due to their thick, fleshy interior. Here are the most popular white pumpkin types:

• Baby Boo Miniature – The fruit can reach up to 7.5 cm in diameter. The skin is snow-white, and it averages 400 seeds per 450g. The white pumpkin is not edible but is perfect for decoration. If left in sunlight, the skin tends to turn yellow.
• Crystal Star – This pumpkin retains its white color even when fully mature. It can reach sizes of 30 cm and weigh up to 16 kg. It’s commonly used for carving, decoration, and cooking due to its evenly distributed flesh.
• Full Moon – It can reach sizes of 40 cm and weigh up to 90 kg. Its skin maintains a porcelain white color if kept in the shade after harvest. If left in the field, it turns a creamy beige with fibrous scarring on the surface.
• Casper – It requires 155 days to fully mature and achieve its snow-white color. It has a very smooth, almost rib-less skin, making it ideal for painting rather than carving. Its flesh is quite sweet but excellent for baking when combined with less sweet ingredients.
• White Ghost – Sometimes called Valencia, this pumpkin has white skin and bright yellow flesh. It rarely grows into a round shape. Its form is often squat, making carving for decoration quite challenging. This pumpkin has thick flesh and is an exciting ingredient in cooking thanks to its texture and unique flavor.
• Lumina – This pumpkin matures very quickly in under 90 days, but it has a short storage life and doesn’t stay fresh long after harvest. The pumpkin has a bright white skin and orange flesh with distinctive aroma and flavor. Many gardeners favor this pumpkin for cooking and decoration due to its silky-soft skin.
• Snowball – Round and attractive, this pumpkin weighs up to 2 pounds (about 900g) and yields over 3,000 small seeds per fruit. The white skin withstands pressure well and in almost all conditions. The pumpkin’s dark green stems and leaves create a perfect contrast with other decorative elements. The seeds are suitable for drying, eating, or planting next season.
• Polar Bear – True to its name, this pumpkin has several varieties, and the vine produces fruits weighing up to 65 pounds (about 30kg). The fruit achieves its bright white color after harvest when stored in sunlight.

When growing different pumpkin varieties, several steps are necessary for optimal results. Properly managing plant growth will yield the best quality harvests, free from disease, and highly suitable for cooking or decoration.

Growing Many Pumpkins

1. Choose the right purpose and pumpkin variety to grow.
2. Start with fresh seeds and begin the planting process indoors if necessary (in colder climates).
3. Transplant seedlings outdoors when temperatures do not drop below 70°F (21°C).
4. Select fertile, well-draining soil.
5. Choose the correct planting technique (trench method or mound method).
6. Apply organic fertilizer.
7. Ensure good drainage.
8. Attract bees for effective pollination between male and female flowers.
9. Ensure pumpkins grow evenly by planting on level ground. If the ground is uneven, the fruit will look bumpy and may grow lopsided.
10. Use only organic fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers can contribute to color changes in the pumpkin as it matures.
11. Ensure sufficient garden space for larger pumpkin varieties. Pumpkins grow quickly and need ample room to expand.
12. Harvest promptly when pumpkins are ripe to prevent mold and rot from forming on the part of the pumpkin in contact with the ground.
13. Store pumpkins in a cool, well-ventilated place to avoid discoloration.
14. Weed, hoe, and till the garden soil daily.
15. Dry seeds thoroughly before storage to prevent mold.

How to Start Growing White Pumpkins

A Close-Up Look at White Pumpkins

For novice gardeners, growing pumpkins may seem like a daunting task. However, this type of gardening activity yields wonderful results and can bring excitement and joy to the whole family.

Healthy seeds are a good starting point. It’s important to purchase seeds from a nursery rather than local chain stores, where seed quality is often much lower and seeds are frequently mixed with different varieties.

Well-preserved seeds can last for many years, and local nurseries are the most reliable suppliers because they have the knowledge and experience in handling them.

Depending on the climate zone, seeds can be planted indoors or outdoors. Typically, pumpkins are not suited for transplanting, so if you can avoid starting indoors, begin planting outside when temperatures reach at least 21°C during the day and no lower than 13°C at night.

The next step involves selecting a suitable location. Pumpkins need full sunlight, at least 8 hours per day, and fertile soil that provides ample nutrients throughout the growing season. The chosen plot should not hold standing water and must have good drainage.

Plenty of space is required as the vines can stretch up to 9 meters. Seeds should be sown in the center of the area where you expect them to germinate, and the fruit will develop as the vines spread outward in a circle around the plant.

Seed Tray

Additionally, white pumpkins are sensitive to wind and may need protection from temporary trellises or fencing. In most windy areas, seeds should be sown in trenches to protect the seeds and fruit and prevent excessive soil loss around the plants.

This also holds true for hot climates. Planting slightly below ground level helps retain moisture and avoids the need for frequent watering.

In colder climates with heavy rainfall, seeds can be sown on mounds to prevent water from pooling around them and to inhibit the development of diseases and pests.

Common Pests

Many pests are attracted to white pumpkins due to the sweet fragrance of their flowers and fruit. One of the most effective methods to deter them is to plant a row of sunflowers for an appealing border.

In many cases, pests are often diverted to the sunflowers instead of the pumpkins. However, pest control still needs to be implemented to prevent the spread of these uninvited guests throughout the entire garden. The most common pests include:

• Aphids – The first sign of aphids is young leaves curling. This is the best time to control an aphid infestation, as the colonies are still quite small and can be easily managed with simple preventative measures like a strong spray of water to break up clusters. This disruption in aphid reproduction allows beneficial ladybugs to invade the population and consume the remaining insects. It is crucial to address the problem as soon as it’s detected because aphids can damage developing fruit and female flowers.
• Beetles – Many types of beetles can attack pumpkin fruit, flowers, and vines. Most of them dwell around the plant stem and feed on the softest parts. They congregate in the soil around the plants, and the most effective way to remove them is through regular weeding, hoeing, and tilling near the crops.

Preservation

White pumpkins are ideal for painting and decorating as they provide a blank canvas for any creative idea.

Because white pumpkins bruise easily, utmost care is required when handling them during the growing season, at harvest, and when decorating. For decorative purposes, their bright white rind can be preserved with a few simple steps:

• Wash the pumpkin thoroughly with soapy water.
• Dry it completely with a soft cloth or paper towel.
• Spray with rubbing alcohol to kill any bacteria or mold.
• Place the pumpkin on a stack of paper towels and allow it to air dry naturally. Change the towels every few days as they absorb moisture released from the pumpkin. Repeat this process for several weeks until the pumpkin fades in color and you can hear its seeds rattling inside.
• Coat the entire surface of the pumpkin rind with wax or a layer of polyurethane varnish.

See more information and gardening tips for plants in your existing garden here: top guides on Gardening