Pumpkin Evaluations 2008

Prepared by Mark Hutton and David Handley


Large, medium and small pumpkins were evaluated at Highmoor Farm in the 2008 growing season. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block with three replications. Each plot had ten plants. The plants were spaced 60″ on center and the rows were 6′ apart. The pumpkins were direct seeded on June 3 into raised plastic mulched beds that were carried over from the 2007 growing season. Immediately after seeding, the field was covered in floating row-cover. The cover was removed on July 3 and the plants thinned to a single plant per hole. Weeds were managed with a non-selective herbicide applied between the beds prior to covering the field with row-cover. One fungicide application of Topsin and Pristine was applied on August 8.



Results:

Small-Fruited Pumpkins
Variety  Average/Fruit Plant  Average Weight (lbs.   Minimum Weight (lbs.)   Maximum Weight (lbs.)
 Oz  3.14  3.2  1.5  5.1
 Gargoyle  3.12  3.9  1.9  5.7
 Iron Man  2.95  3.7  2.5  5.1
 Mystic Plus  1.86  5.9  3.3  17.3
 Goose Bumps  1.85  8.0  1.9  23.8
 Knuckle Head  1.54  11.8  2.1  24.8

 

Small-Fruited Pumpkins
Pumpkin Variety Pumpkin Description
Oz
Oz pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Smooth
  • Medium orange color
  • Strong, long handles
  • Semi bush plant
  • Colors early (similar to Neon)
  • 1.5-5 pounds (avg. 3.2)
  • 3.14 fruits per plant
Gargoyle
gargoyle pumpkin
  • Flat/round shape
  • Shallow ribs
  • Some warts
  • Medium color
  • Straight, long handles
  • Hard rind
  • 1.9-5.7 pounds (avg. 3.12)
  • 3.12 fruit per plant
Iron Man
ironman pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Smooth
  • Dark orange color
  • Strong long handles
  • Hard rind
  • Tolerance to powdery mildew, Fusarium and Phytophthora fruit rots
  • 2.5-5.1 pounds (avg. 2.95)
  • 2.95 fruit per plant
Mystic Plus
mystic plus pumpkin
  • Flat round shape
  • Dark color
  • Strong, long handles
  • Hard rind
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
  • 3.3-17.3 pounds (avg. 1.86)
  • 1.86 fruit per plant
Goose Bumps
goose bumps pumpkin
  • Unique
  • Variable warts
  • Round to tall round
  • Long straight handles
  • 1.9-23.8 pounds (avg. 8.0)
  • 1.85 fruit per plant

 


Medium-Fruited Pumpkins
Variety Average/Fruit Plant Average Weight (lbs.) Minimum Weight (lbs.) Maximum Weight (lbs.)
 Magician  1.81  15.7  8.4  28.4
 Sorcerer  1.64  17.5  11.2  29.1
 Racer  1.59  13.6  4.5  31.7
 Charisma PMR  1.56  15.1  7.3  24.1
 Knuckle Head  1.54  11.8  2.1  24.8
 New Rocket  1.45  17.6  9.0  27.1
 Merlin  1.27  16.8  9.6  26.1
 Warlock  1.25  16.9  10.8  27.1
 Gladiator  1.22  15.2  10.9  23.1
 Gold Challenger  1.22  18.9  12.0  26.8
 Magic Lantern  1.22  16.8  6.3  24.9
 Big Rock  1.20  19.3  11.6  31.6
 20 Karat Gold  1.09  17.7  9.7  26.7
 Oktoberfest  1.06  18.3  4.5  29.5
 Hannibal  0.91  19.6  10.1  31.7
 Expert  0.81  17.8  11.7  26.6

 

Medium-Fruited Pumpkins
Pumpkin Variety Pumpkin Description
Magician
magician pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Good ribs
  • Dark color
  • Strong, large handles
  • Dark green handlesPowdery mildew tolerant
  • 8.4-28.4 pounds (avg. 15.7)
  • 1.81 fruit per plant
Racer
racer pumpkin
  • Round to flat round
  • Good ribs
  • Dark color
  • Strong, large handles
  • Very nice attractive fruit
  • Semi-bush plant
  • 4.5 to 31.7 pounds (avg. 13.6)
  • 1.59 fruit per plant
Charisma PMR
charisma PMR pumpkin
  • Flat round shape
  • Fairly deep rib
  • Medium orange color
  • Strong short handles
  • Good uniformity
  • Reduced vine
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
  • Crew favorite
  • 7.3 to 24.1 pounds (avg. 15.1)
  • 1.56 fruit per plant
Knuckle Head
knuckle head pumpkin
  • Unique
  • Variable warts
  • Tall shape
  • Good ribs
  • Dark orange
  • Long handles
  • 2.1 to 24.8 pounds (avg. 11.8)
  • 1.54 fruit per plant
New Rocket
new rocket pumpkin
  • Tall round shape
  • Good ribs
  • Medium orange color
  • Good handles
  • 9 to 27.1 pounds (avg. 17.6)
  • 1.45 fruit per plant
Merlin
merlin pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Weak ribs
  • Medium dark color
  • Good handles
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
  • 9.6 to 26.1 pounds (avg. 16.8)
  • 1.27 fruit per plant
Warlock
warlock pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Weak ribs
  • Variable color
  • Strong handles with a large attachment
  • Semi-hard rind
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
  • 10.8 to 27.1 pounds (avg. 16.9)
  • 1.25 fruit per plant
Gladiator
gladiator pumpkin
  • Round
  • Good ribs
  • Dark color
  • Strong, large handles
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
  • Strong semi-vine
  • 10.9 to 23.1 pounds (avg. 15.2)
  • 1.22 fruit per plant
Gold Challenger
gold challenger pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Variable ribs
  • Variable color
  • Long handles
  • Semi-bush
  • 12 to 26.8 pounds (avg. 18.9)
  • 1.22 fruit per plant
Magic Lantern
magic lantern pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Wide ribs
  • Variable color
  • Strong handles good color
  • 6.3-24.9 pounds (avg. 16.8)
  • 1.22 fruit per plant
Big Rock
big rock pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Wide ribs
  • Variable color
  • Strong handles good color
  • 11.6-31.6 pounds (avg. 19.3)
  • 1.2 fruit per plant
20 Karat Gold
20 karat gold pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Weak ribs
  • Good color
  • Strong, long handles
  • 9.7-26.7 pounds (avg. 17.7)
  • 1.09 fruit per plant
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
Oktoberfest
oktoberfest pumpkin
  • Round to tall shape
  • Good ribs
  • Variable color, mostly very dark
  • Variable handles
  • 4.5-29.5 pounds (avg. 18.3)
  • 1.06 fruit per plant
Hannibal
hannibal pumpkin
  • Round to tall shape
  • Shallow ribs / smooth
  • Dark orange
  • Strong, moderate length handles
  • 10.1-31.7 pounds (avg. 19.6)
  • 0.91 fruit per plant
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
Expert
expert pumpkin
  • Tall shape
  • Deep ribs
  • Dark color
  • Long, dark handles
  • 11.7-26.6 pounds (avg. 17.8)
  • 0.81 fruit per plant
  • Long vine

Large-Fruited Pumpkins
Variety Average/Fruit Plant Average Weight (lbs.) Minimum Weight (lbs.) Maximum Weight (lbs.)
Camaro 1.63 20.2 10.0 33.7
King Midas 1.32 25.8 17.8 37.2
Gold Gem 1.23 20.0 10.6 39.5
Gold Medal 1.06 22.3 11.8 40.0
Dependable 1.04 25.5 13.6 36.4
Rock Star 0.86 22.1 14.9 33.6
Super Herc 0.86 23.9 17.5 33.9
Harvest King 0.80 25.0 11.5 39.6
Wolf 0.71 24.1 18.3 36.4
Gold Medallion 0.59 22.9 13.8 30.8

 

Large-Fruited Pumpkins
Pumpkin Variety Pumpkin Description
Camaro
 camaro pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Smooth
  • Variable pale color
  • Average handles
  • 10-33.7 pounds (avg. 20.2)
  • 1.63 fruit per plant
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
  • Semi-bush
King Midas
king midas pumpkin
  • Tall round
  • Variable ribs
  • Dark orange color
  • Nice, dark handles
  • 17.8-37.2 pounds (avg. 25.8)
  • 1.32 fruit per plant
  • Best yielding large pumpkin
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
Gold Gem
 gold gem pumpkin
  • Shape variable
  • Mild rib
  • Color variable
  • Handles not great
  • 10.6-39.5 pounds (avg. 20)
  • 1.23 fruit per plant
  • Large vine
Gold Medal
 gold medal pumpkin
  • Mostly tall shape
  • Not too ribbed
  • Variable color
  • Variable Handle
  • 11.8-40 pounds (avg. 22.3)
  • one fruit per plant
Dependable
 dependable pumpkin
  • Mostly tall round shape
  • Fairly ribbed
  • Color variable
  • Good handle attachment
  • 13.6-36.4 pounds (avg. 25.5)
  • one fruit per plant
  • Full vine
  • Moderate powdery mildew tolerance
 Rock Star
rock star pumpkin
  • Round to tall shape
  • Weak ribs
  • Light to medium color
  • Long handles
  • 14.9-33.6 pounds (avg. 22.1)
  • 0.86 fruit per plant
Super Herc
 super herc pumpkin
  • Round to tall shape
  • Good ribs
  • Dark color
  • Strong, large handles
  • 17.5-33.9 pounds (avg. 23.9)
  • 0.86 fruit per plant
  • Large strong plant
  • Powdery mildew tolerant
Harvest King
 harvest king pumpkin
  • Tall round shape
  • Fairly ribbed
  • Dark orange color
  • Strong short handles
  • 11.5-39.6 pounds (avg. 25)
  • 0.8 fruit per plant
  • Weak plant
  • Some warts
Wolf
 wolf pumpkin
  • Round to tall shape
  • Good ribs
  • Variable color
  • Strong, large handles
  • 18.3-36.4 pounds (avg. 24.1)
  • 0.7 fruit per plant
  • Large vine
Gold Medallion
 gold medallion pumpkin
  • Round shape
  • Fairly smooth
  • Good color
  • Variable handles
  • 13.8-30.8 pounds (avg. 22.9)
  • 0.59 fruit per plant
  • Weak plant