Pumpkins come in a variety of colors, ranging from pale yellow to deep orange. The commonly carved Halloween pumpkins are most often orange, leading many to assume pumpkins are orange. However, not all pumpkins are orange. The color of a pumpkin depends on the variety and can range across the color spectrum from white to yellow to orange. So are pumpkins really orange or yellow? Let’s take a closer look.
What Determines Pumpkin Color?
The main factor that determines pumpkin color is genetics. Pumpkin varieties have been selectively bred over generations to produce fruits with different sizes, shapes, textures and colors. The pigment that gives pumpkins their orange hue is called carotene. Carotene is one of the main pigments that produce the range of orange and yellow shades in pumpkins.
The concentration of carotene determines the depth of orange or yellow color. Pumpkins with high carotene levels appear deep orange, while pumpkins with lower carotene appear pale yellow or white. Environmental factors like temperature, sunlight exposure and soil quality can also impact carotene production and pumpkin color. But genetics play the biggest role in establishing color variation between varieties.
Common Pumpkin Varieties by Color
| Variety | Color |
|---|---|
| Connecticut Field | Orange |
| Howden | Orange |
| Sugar Pie | Orange |
| New England Cheddar | Orange |
| Baby Pam | Orange |
| Munchkin | Orange |
| Baby Bear | Orange |
| Jarrahdale | Blue-gray |
| Rouge Vif D’Etampes | Red |
| Australian Blue | Blue-gray |
| Lumina | White |
| Cinderella | White |
| New Moon | Pale yellow |
| Gold Rush | Yellow |
| Sunlight | Yellow |
This table shows some common pumpkin varieties categorized by color. As you can see, orange varieties like Connecticut Field, Howden and Sugar Pie are very common. These are the types traditionally used for jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin pie. But there are also varieties across the color spectrum, like the blue-gray Jarrahdale, red Rouge Vif D’Etampes, white Lumina and yellow Sunlight.
Why Are Most Carving Pumpkins Orange?
Carving pumpkins are most often orange for a few key reasons:
- Orange varieties like Connecticut Field, Howden and Sugar Pie have been selectively bred to have the ideal shape, size and structure for carving jack-o-lanterns. They are large enough to carve intricate designs, have thick, sturdy flesh and smooth, rounded shapes.
- The thick flesh of these orange varieties helps keep carved pumpkins from rotting or collapsing too quickly before Halloween. The high carotene content may also help ward off decay organisms.
- Pumpkins with thicker, more defined ribs between segments are easier to carve. Many heirloom and alternative color varieties have thinner, less defined ribs.
- Orange has become associated with Halloween and jack-o-lanterns in popular culture. Most people expect carved pumpkins to be orange.
- Orange pumpkins provide nice contrast and glow when a candle or light is placed inside the carved pumpkin. Light shines through the orange rind in dramatic ways.
So in short, orange pumpkins like Connecticut Field were selectively developed to have the ideal traits for jack-o-lantern carving. Their size, shape, texture and color make them perfect candidates for the traditional Halloween ritual.
What Colors Are Edible Pumpkins?
When it comes to pumpkins grown for eating, there is much more variety in color. Here are some of the common colors of edible pumpkin varieties:
- Orange – Many heirloom edible varieties like Sugar Pie, New England Cheddar and Baby Pam are various shades of orange. These are often used for pumpkin puree in baking.
- Tan – Varieties like Cheese pumpkins have tan or buff-colored skin. The flesh is still orange though.
- Green – Some French varieties like Rouge Vif D’Etampes and Galeux D’Eysines develop an orange, yellow or green skin at maturity.
- White – Lumina, Silver Moon and Ghost Rider are common white-skinned baking pumpkins.
- Yellow – Pumpkins like La Estrella and Sunlight are vibrant yellow.
- Speckled – Varieties like Knuckle Head and One Too Many are orange splotched with green spots.
So when it comes to pumpkins grown specifically for cooking, the spectrum of colors broadens beyond just orange. Heirloom and specialty edible pumpkins come in diverse shapes, sizes and colors. However, the flesh inside is almost always some shade of orange or yellow from ample carotene content.
What Are Some Yellow Pumpkin Varieties?
There are a number of cultivated pumpkin varieties that produce yellow fruit. Here are some of the most common yellow varieties:
- Sunlight – This variety bears fruit that is a consistent lemon yellow. The flesh is thick and pale yellow.
- La Estrella – Originally from Portugal, this heirloom variety bears small, bright golden yellow pumpkins with dense, sweet flesh.
- Yellow Mini – As the name suggests, this variety produces miniature round pumpkins in a bright golden yellow color. It has good yields on compact vines.
- Gold Rush – This hybrid plant yields large, slightly ribbed pumpkins in a rich golden color. It has a mild, sweet flavor perfect for baking.
- Sweet Lightning – Small to medium-sized fruit that are oblate shaped and bright golden-yellow. The flesh is sweet and stringless.
- Jarrahdale – A unique blue-gray Australian heirloom variety that ripens to a yellow-orange color at maturity.
- Mellow Yellow – As the name suggests, this variety bears mellow, pale lemon yellow pumpkins on productive vines.
These varieties showcase the diversity of yellow pumpkins available to home gardeners and farmers. The shades range from vibrant golden yellow to pale lemon yellow. When selecting yellow pumpkin seeds or plants, consider size, plant growth habit, days to maturity and resistance to local pests and diseases. This will help ensure a robust harvest of these sunny yellow fruits.
What Do Heirloom Pumpkin Varieties Look Like?
Heirloom pumpkins refer to old-fashioned or antique varieties that have been passed down through generations. They exhibit a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. Here are some characteristics of popular heirloom pumpkin types:
- Colors include orange, yellow, green, tan, red, blue-gray and white skin colors.
- Unique shapes like giant pumpkins, flattened or heavily ribbed pumpkins, and miniature varieties under 3 pounds.
- Smooth, warty, or wrinkled skin textures.
- Occasional dark green to brown splotches and stripes.
- Thick, sturdy stems in a range of colors like orange, green or brown.
- Heavy textures with dense, meaty flesh, or thin shells filled with stringless pulp.
- Intoxicating aromas ranging from sweet to earthy and spicy.
Some famous heirloom varieties include Connecticut Field, Jarrahdale, Rouge Vif D’Etampes, New England Pie, Marina Di Chioggia and Musquee de Provence. Gardeners seeking diversity often grow heirloom pumpkins. The seeds for these antique varieties can often be purchased through seed saver networks and exchanges.
Can Orange and Yellow Pumpkins Come From the Same Plant?
It is possible but quite rare for a single pumpkin plant to bear both orange and yellow fruit. Here is some background on why bi-colored pumpkins are unusual:
- Pumpkin plants typically only produce female flowers that contain genes to create fruit of a single color.
- Cross-pollination between different colored pumpkins on the same property can very rarely result in bi-colored fruit.
- A genetic mutation might cause one flower on a plant to produce a differently colored pumpkin.
- Environmental stresses could potentially limit or increase carotene production in some fruit on the vine.
- Viral infections of the plant, like cucumber mosaic virus, may induce color changes in some fruit.
- But in most cases, each plant will bear exclusively orange or yellow pumpkins based on its genetic programming.
While possible, pumpkins on the same plant changing colors from orange to yellow remains quite uncommon. Variety purity and isolation normally ensures uniformity in fruit colors. Any sudden shifts in color likely stem from cross-pollination or viral infection stress effects.
How to Get Both Orange and Yellow Pumpkins
If you want both yellow and orange pumpkins from your garden, here are a couple tips:
- Grow separate plants of known orange and yellow varieties far enough apart to prevent cross-pollination. Keep an isolation distance of at least 500 feet.
- Grow orange and yellow varieties in different areas of the garden from year to year. Rotate planting sites.
- Plant orange and yellow pumpkins weeks apart to avoid overlapping bloom periods.
- Cage or hand-pollinate flowers on plants of different colors to exclude insects carrying foreign pollen.
- Pull off any pumpkins that develop with an odd off-color to maintain purity of both varieties.
Controlling bloom timing, isolation distances and pollination are key to keeping orange and yellow pumpkin varieties true. With some planning, it’s possible to successfully grow both types for a colorful fall harvest display.
Conclusion
While commonly associated with the color orange, pumpkins actually come in a diverse range of colors spanning the spectrum from white to yellow to orange. Genetics play a key role in determining pumpkin color. Varieties were selectively bred over generations to produce different characteristics. The concentration of the pigment carotene gives pumpkins rich yellow and orange hues. Most carving pumpkins are orange for ideal shape, size, texture and color. But edible and heirloom varieties showcase more color diversity. And while rare, it is possible for a single plant to produce both orange and yellow pumpkins from genetic mutations. By understanding the factors that determine color and using isolation and rotation planting, gardeners can successfully grow both orange and yellow pumpkin varieties for a colorful harvest display.
