Heirloom
Long Pie Pumpkin is an heirloom cross between butternut squash and traditional pie pumpkin that rewrites what a pie pumpkin can be. These elongated fruits stretch 14 to 16 inches long and weigh around 8 to 10 pounds each, making them visually striking in the garden and remarkably productive, each vine yields 5 to 7 fruits. With 90 to 110 days to harvest and a deep, sweet flavor that's virtually string-free, this variety transforms the pie pumpkin from a humble autumn staple into something genuinely special.
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What sets Long Pie Pumpkin apart is its unusual shape and the unexpected cross that created it. An heirloom breeder recognized that butternut squash's superior flavor and texture could enhance the traditional pie pumpkin, resulting in an elongated fruit that combines the best of both parents. The vines are prolific, reliably producing multiple fruits per plant, and the sweet, string-free flesh makes it a revelation for cooks tired of watery, stringy pie pumpkins. This is a variety that rewards gardeners who love both visual drama and genuine culinary improvement.
Long Pie Pumpkin is built for the kitchen, particularly for baking and making puree. The string-free flesh and reliable sweetness make it ideal for pies, soups, and roasted preparations where you want clean, tender results without the fibrous texture that often mars traditional pie pumpkins. The manageable 8 to 10 pound size means you can use one fruit without excessive waste or the need to preserve large quantities.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach at least 60°F, planting seeds 1 inch deep in hills or rows spaced 3 to 4 feet apart.
Harvest Long Pie Pumpkin when fruits reach their characteristic elongated shape of 14 to 16 inches long and the rind has hardened to a deep golden-orange color. The skin should be difficult to pierce with a fingernail, indicating maturity. Cut fruits from the vine with a sharp knife or pruner, leaving 2 to 3 inches of stem attached. Pick all fruits before the first hard frost, as frost damage will ruin storage quality and cooking texture.
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“Long Pie Pumpkin emerged from intentional heirloom breeding that crossed butternut squash with pie pumpkin varieties, representing the kind of thoughtful plant development that characterized mid-to-late 20th century seed saving movements. Rather than chasing size for size's sake, the breeder sought to solve a real problem, improving the texture and flavor of pie pumpkins while keeping them manageable for home cooks. This cross preserved the pie pumpkin's cooking properties while introducing the butternut's superior sweetness and dense, string-free flesh, creating a variety that honors both parent plants.”