VegetablePumpkin
Sugar Pie Pumpkin
Sugar Pie Pumpkin stands as the true American heirloom and culinary standard for autumn baking, earning its reputation as the New England pumpkin that has graced tables for generations. These compact, flattened orange beauties mature in just 89-90 days across zones 3-13, producing sweet, fine-grained flesh perfect for pies, soups, and seasonal treats. Growing 18-24 inches tall with sprawling vines that need 36 inches of space, each plant yields multiple 6-10 inch pumpkins weighing 6-8 pounds with rich, buttery meat and minimal seeds.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
36
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets Sugar Pie apart is its perfect marriage of compact size and exceptional flavor, making it the baker's dream pumpkin. The sweet, smooth flesh roasts into creamy perfection for pies while storing remarkably well for months after harvest. These prolific plants produce decent quantities of decorative yet delicious pumpkins, each packed with nutritious orange meat that's rich in fiber and vitamin A. The variety's reliability across diverse growing zones and relatively quick maturity make it accessible to gardeners from short-season regions to southern climates.
Common Uses
Sugar Pie excels in baking applications, producing the smooth, creamy texture essential for classic pumpkin pies, muffins, breads, and cakes. The sweet, fine-grained flesh roasts beautifully for soups and can be pureed for cheesecakes or used as a buttery filling for ravioli. Beyond desserts, this versatile pumpkin serves well for canning and preserving, while its attractive size and color make it suitable for autumn decorations before culinary use.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start indoors only for very short growing seasons, sowing 2-4 weeks before the last frost date in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly in the ground. Seeds germinate in 4-10 days at temperatures of 70-90°F.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant after the average last frost date when weather is warm and settled, planting the entire biodegradable pot directly in composted, well-drained soil.
Direct Sow
Direct sowing is recommended 2-4 weeks after the average last frost when soil temperature reaches 70-90°F. Plant 2-3 seeds atop 8-10 inch tall mounds spaced every 5-6 feet to accommodate the long, heavy trailing vines.
Harvesting
Harvest Sugar Pie pumpkins before autumn frost when the stem becomes solid and the rind turns tough enough that it cannot be pierced by a fingernail. Clip pumpkins from the vine with shears, leaving about 4 inches of stem intact. After harvesting, cure the pumpkins in the sun for 10-14 days to extend storage life up to three months.
Pruning
As pumpkins begin showing on the vine, pinch off excess vines and flowers to inhibit vegetative growth and direct the plant's energy toward producing the largest, healthiest pumpkins. This selective pruning helps maximize fruit size and quality.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita pepo
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (NI)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Sugar Pie Pumpkin represents a true American heirloom cultivar, widely recognized as the traditional New England pumpkin that has anchored regional baking traditions for generations. This Cucurbita pepo variety earned its place as the culinary standard through decades of selection for superior pie-making qualities, becoming the benchmark against which all other baking pumpkins are measured. Its preservation and continued popularity speak to the deep cultural connection between American gardeners and this essential autumn crop.”