VegetablePumpkin
Autumn Gold Pumpkin
Autumn Pumpkin
Autumn Gold is a non-GMO hybrid pumpkin bred for speed and versatility, maturing in just 90 days from seed to harvest. Each vine produces 3 to 5 fruits weighing 7 to 10 pounds, making them substantial enough for carving, cooking, and seed saving without excessive bulk. Because it reaches maturity quickly, this variety thrives in northern gardens where the growing season compresses, yet it performs across hardiness zones 3 through 13. It's the farmstand favorite for a reason: one plant delivers multiple uses and early enough harvests to beat the first frost.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Preferred Temp70-85°F
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
—
Width
36 in
Spacing
90–99
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeVine
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Each vine produces multiple 7 to 10 pound pumpkins in just 90 days, making this hybrid exceptionally efficient for gardeners with limited time or short seasons. The combination of speed, productivity, and all-purpose utility (equally suited to carving, cooking, and seed harvesting) sets it apart from slower or single-use varieties. Its early maturity is especially valuable for northern regions where autumn arrives fast.
Common Uses
Autumn Gold serves triple duty in the kitchen and garden. Its medium size and firm flesh make it excellent for roasting and pureeing for soups, pies, and fall baking. The skin is sturdy enough for carving jack-o'-lanterns without collapsing, and the seeds harvest abundantly for roasting, making it equally at home as autumn decoration and food.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Late Spring
First Harvest
Early Fall
Last Harvest
Mid-fall
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Plant seeds directly into warm soil after the last spring frost, once soil temperature reaches 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow seeds at the spacing specified for your garden layout.
Harvesting
Harvest Autumn Gold pumpkins around 90 to 99 days after planting, or when the skin has fully hardened and turned a deep golden color. Cut the stem with a sharp knife or pruning shears, leaving 2 to 3 inches of stem attached to the fruit. A fully mature pumpkin will have a hard rind that resists thumbnail pressure, a sign it's ready to store.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita mixta Pang.
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (NI)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Autumn Gold is a deliberately bred hybrid designed to solve the timing challenge that plagues pumpkin growers in cooler climates. By crossing specific Cucurbita pepo parents for early maturation and consistent productivity, breeders created a variety that doesn't sacrifice yield or fruit quality in the race to mature. This hybrid approach allows northern gardeners to reliably harvest full-sized pumpkins before frost arrives, a practical solution that has made it a farmstand staple.”