Heirloom

Sugar Pie Pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo 'Sugar Pie'

The gold standard for homemade pumpkin pie and fall baking. These compact, sweet pumpkins produce thick, smooth flesh that's naturally creamy without being watery. Perfect size for small families and much more flavorful than store-bought canned pumpkin.

Harvest

100-110d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

White-Tailed Deer

☀️

Zones

3–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Sugar Pie Pumpkin in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 squash →

Zone Map

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Sugar Pie Pumpkin · Zones 3–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing36-48 inches

SoilRich, well-drained soil with compost

pH6.0-7.0

Water1 inch per week, deep watering at soil level

SeasonWarm season

FlavorSweet, smooth, rich and creamy with classic pumpkin flavor

ColorDeep orange

Size6-8 inches diameter, 3-7 lbs

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	—	—	June – July	October – October
Zone 4	—	—	June – July	October – October
Zone 5	—	—	May – June	September – October
Zone 6	—	—	May – June	September – November
Zone 7	—	—	April – June	September – October
Zone 8	—	—	April – May	August – October
Zone 9	—	—	March – April	July – September
Zone 10	—	—	February – April	July – August

Complete Growing Guide

Light: White-Tailed Deer. Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 2 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: var. CylindricaZucchini Squash, var. Cylindrica. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

A type of berry called a pepo that has a hard rind. Fruits may be long or round, large or small, smooth or warty– some have edible flesh and some are too hard or insipid to eat, though the seeds of all are edible. Has a harder, thicker stem compared to other species.

Color: Black, Cream/Tan, Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Red/Burgundy, Variegated, White. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.

Garden value: Edible, Showy

Harvest time: Fall

Bloom time: Summer

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Sugar Pie pumpkins store exceptionally well when cured properly. After harvest, leave them in the sun for 10-14 days to harden the skin, or cure indoors in a warm, well-ventilated area if weather doesn't cooperate. Store in a cool, dry place (50-55°F) with good air circulation—they'll keep 2-4 months under ideal conditions.

For preservation, roast halved pumpkins cut-side down at 400°F until tender, then scoop out flesh and puree. Freeze puree in measured portions for easy baking use—it maintains quality for up to 8 months frozen. You can also can the puree following tested recipes, though the texture may be slightly different than fresh. Sugar Pie pumpkins also dehydrate well when sliced thin, creating chips that store for months in airtight containers.

History & Origin

Origin: North America

Advantages

+Fast-growing

Companion Plants

Plant Together

Corn

Provides vertical structure for pumpkin vines to climb and creates beneficial microclimate

Bush Beans

Fix nitrogen in soil to feed heavy-feeding pumpkins and don't compete for ground space

Marigolds

Repel cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and nematodes that commonly attack pumpkins

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for squash bugs and cucumber beetles, also repel aphids

Radishes

Deter squash vine borers and cucumber beetles while being harvested before pumpkins spread

Catnip

Strongly repels squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and other common pumpkin pests

Oregano

Repels aphids and provides general pest deterrent without competing for space

Sunflowers

Attract beneficial insects and provide windbreak protection for sprawling pumpkin vines

Keep Apart

Potatoes

Compete for similar soil nutrients and space, both are heavy feeders that deplete soil

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants including pumpkins through allelopathic compounds

Brassicas

Heavy nitrogen feeders that compete directly with pumpkins and may stunt growth

Nutrition Facts

Calories

26kcal(1%)

Protein

1g(2%)

Fiber

0.5g(2%)

Carbs

6.5g(2%)

Fat

0.1g(0%)

Vitamin C

9mg(10%)

Vitamin A

426mcg(47%)

Vitamin K

1.1mcg(1%)

Iron

0.8mg(4%)

Calcium

21mg(2%)

Potassium

340mg(7%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #168448)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Good general disease tolerance

Common Pests

Squash bugs, cucumber beetles, vine borers

Diseases

Powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, downy mildew

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Sugar Pie pumpkins does one plant produce?▼

A healthy Sugar Pie pumpkin plant typically produces 2-4 pumpkins per vine. This moderate yield is actually ideal since each pumpkin weighs 6-8 pounds and provides enough puree for 2-3 pies. The plant focuses energy on developing high-quality, dense flesh rather than numerous fruits.

Can you grow Sugar Pie pumpkins in containers?▼

Sugar Pie pumpkins can grow in large containers (minimum 20 gallons) but require significant space management. Train vines over the container edges or provide sturdy trellising. Container growing works best in cooler climates where you can move plants to optimize sun exposure, but yields will be reduced to 1-2 pumpkins per plant.

When should I plant Sugar Pie pumpkin seeds?▼

Plant Sugar Pie pumpkin seeds when soil temperature consistently reaches 65°F, typically 2-3 weeks after your last frost date. For a Halloween harvest, plant by early June in most climates. In zones 3-5, start seeds indoors in late April to early May for transplanting after frost danger passes.

What's the difference between Sugar Pie and regular carving pumpkins?▼

Sugar Pie pumpkins have dense, sweet, fine-textured flesh perfect for cooking, while carving pumpkins have watery, stringy flesh with bland flavor. Sugar Pie varieties are smaller (6-8 pounds) with thicker walls, whereas carving pumpkins are bred for size and hollow interiors. You can carve a Sugar Pie, but you can't make good pie from carving varieties.

How do you know when Sugar Pie pumpkins are ripe?▼

Sugar Pie pumpkins are ripe when they're deep orange, the stem is dry and beginning to shrivel, and the rind is hard enough that your fingernail can't dent it. The tendril closest to the fruit stem will be brown and dry. Harvest before hard frost, as immature pumpkins won't ripen further once picked.

Are Sugar Pie pumpkins good for beginners?▼

Yes, Sugar Pie pumpkins are excellent for beginning gardeners. They're more forgiving than many vegetables, have clear visual indicators for harvest readiness, and don't require complex training or pruning. The main challenges are providing adequate space and managing common pests like squash bugs, which are manageable with basic organic methods.