Pumpkins come in a range of colours and sizes, some large, some small, some bumpy, some lumpy, some grown for flesh, others mainly for seed. But there's one thing they all have in common, they're one of the nutritional powerhouses of the vegetable world, a true under-appreciated superfood. The seeds are also delicious and have a wonderful nutty, slightly popcorn like taste when freshly roasted. I find it interesting that some of the vitamins and minerals that aren't as concentrated in the pumpkin flesh can actually be found at high levels in the pumpkin seeds. The sweet, rich tasting pumpkin flesh is most delicious when used to make a classic pumpkin soup, or when roasted with whole garlic cloves, sprigs of rosemary and olive oil. In other countries some of these varieties are known as Winter Squashes but here in Australia we tend to just call the lot pumpkins. You can buy heirloom pumpkin seeds to grow in your garden at home right here at Succeed Heirlooms, our current range of pumpkin varieties is listed below:
Heirloom Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin 'Big Max'
Big Max produces large, round, orange pumpkins that can grow massive under ideal conditions, although most often will stay under 50cm in diameter. Thick, fine-grained, mild-flavoured flesh great for making pumpkin pies and other desserts but less suitable for roasting. Stores well and can be carved for Halloween. 6 seeds per packet.
Pumpkin 'Blue Hubbard'
Blue Hubbard is a heirloom variety that produces medium-sized, warty, blue-skinned pumpkins. The yellow flesh within has a sweet, rich and nutty flavour and dry texture making it ideal for roasting. 8 seeds per packet.
Pumpkin 'Buttercup'
Buttercup is a heirloom pumpkin variety that produces medium sized, green-skinned fruit about 2kg in weight. Flesh is orange with a rich, nutty flavour and dry, string-less texture. Excellent for roasting, one of the best tasting pumpkin varieties. 8 seeds per packet.
Pumpkin 'Golden Hubbard'
Golden Hubbard produces orange, rough-skinned, round pumpkins with tapering ends. Flesh is bright orange, mildly sweet, dry and flavoursome, excellent when roasted. 13-14 weeks to harvest. Each packet contains 8 seeds.
Pumpkin 'Golden Nugget'
Golden Nugget is a prolific, long-keeping variety of pumpkin with small, orange, flattened, spherical fruits. The light orange flesh inside is sweet and finely textured. Harvest in 75 to 95 days from planting. Each packet contains 12 seeds.
Pumpkin 'Kuri Blue'
Kuri Blue is a traditional Japanese blue-skinned pumpkin variety with very sweet, dense, yellow flesh that is excellent roasted or in curries. Small fruits up to 1.5kg. 6 seeds per packet.
Pumpkin 'Queensland Blue'
Pumpkin 'Queensland Blue' is an Australian blue-skinned pumpkin with a thin skin and a delicious rich flavour. 17-19 weeks to harvest. Each packets contains 10 large seeds.
Pumpkin 'Styrian Hulless'
Produces small green and orange striped fruit which are packed full of large, green hulless seeds that can be roasted and eaten as pepitas. Flesh is thin and flavourless but can be used as stock fodder or composted rather than wasted. 7 seeds per packet.
Pumpkin 'Triamble'
Triamble is a large, blue-skinned, three-lobed, heirloom pumpkin similar in taste to the Queensland Blue variety. Flesh is sweet, dry and orange in colour. Rare Australian variety. 4 seeds per packet.
Pumpkin 'Turks Turban'
Turks Turban produces decorative small, colourful pumpkins which resemble turbans in shape. Has a mild pumpkin flavour with a hazelnut-like nuttiness to it. Each packet contains 8 seeds.
Pumpkin 'Waltham Butternut'
Pumpkin 'Waltham Butternut' is a popular heirloom pumpkin which produces large bell-shaped fruit with a thin, tan flesh and dark orange, sweet flesh. Each packets contains 12 seeds.