1# SMALL SUGAR/PIE PUMPKIN SEE

ugar Pie Pumpkin Seed (Cucurbita pepo)—often called Sugar Pumpkin—is the classic baking pumpkin grown for its sweet, smooth flesh and manageable size.

🎃 Variety Overview

• Type: Pie / sugar pumpkin

• Fruit Size: 4–8 lb

• Shape: Round, slightly flattened

• Color: Deep orange

• Days to Maturity: ~95–105 days

• Vines: Vigorous, 10–15 feet

• Use: Pies, purée, roasting, soups, breads

✅ Why Grow Sugar Pie

• Excellent flavor and texture for cooking

• Dense, sweet flesh (not watery or stringy)

• Ideal size for home kitchens

• Reliable producer in home gardens

• Stores well after curing

This is the preferred pumpkin for homemade pumpkin pie.

🌤️ Growing Conditions

• Season: Warm‑season crop

• Sun: Full sun (8+ hours)

• Soil: Fertile, well‑drained soil rich in organic matter

• Soil pH: 6.0–6.8

• Frost Sensitive: Yes

🌱 Planting Instructions

• When to Plant:

  • After last frost, once soil is ≥65°F

• How to Plant:

  • Depth: 1 inch

  • Spacing: 3–4 feet between plants

  • Rows: 6–8 feet apart

🌱 Tip: Plant in compost‑amended hills for best drainage and growth.

💧 Care & Feeding

• Water deeply and consistently, especially during fruit development

• Mulch to retain moisture and reduce weeds

• Feed with balanced fertilizer early; reduce nitrogen after fruit set

• Place fruit on straw or cardboard to prevent rot

🎃 Harvesting

• Harvest before hard frost when rind is fully orange and hard

• Cut fruit with 3–4 inches of stem attached

• Cure for 10–14 days in a warm, dry area for best storage and flavor

🥧 Cooking Quality

• Smooth, sweet, thick flesh

• Ideal for:

  • Pumpkin pie and cheesecake

  • Purée and freezing

  • Roasted pumpkin dishes

  • Soups and breads

(Smaller fruits usually have the best flavor.)

🌿 Companion Plants

• Corn

• Beans

• Nasturtiums

(Avoid potatoes.)