VegetablePumpkin
Casper Pumpkin
Casper Pumpkin is a ghostly white cultivar of Cucurbita pepo that brings visual drama and genuine culinary talent to the fall garden. Named after the friendly ghost, these 15-pound pumpkins carve beautifully for Halloween while delivering surprisingly sweet flesh that bakes into silky pie. Growing in 110 to 119 days across hardiness zones 3 through 13, Casper matures as a compact vine reaching 18 to 24 inches tall, making it surprisingly manageable for most garden sizes. The combination of showstopping appearance and genuine baking quality makes this variety worth the garden space.
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
Spacing
36
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
Casper's ghostly white skin makes it instantly recognizable in the autumn garden, but the real appeal lies beneath: the flesh is remarkably sweet and fine-textured, excelling in pie and baked goods where most decorative pumpkins fall flat. At around 15 pounds, these pumpkins are substantial enough to impress but still manageable to handle and process. The relatively compact vine habit and reliable 110 to 119 day maturity means even gardeners with shorter growing seasons can bring these to harvest.
Common Uses
Casper shines as both a carving pumpkin and a baking ingredient, a rare combination that gives gardeners dual-purpose harvests. The sweet, fine flesh works beautifully in pumpkin pie, where its sugary character translates directly to dessert quality without the watery texture of many jack-o'-lantern types. The pale skin also photographs exceptionally well for fall decoration, making these pumpkins popular for both kitchen and porch display.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost date in soil kept at 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Transplant seedlings outdoors only after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed thoroughly.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant into the garden spacing vines 36 inches apart once soil temperature is reliably warm and frost risk has ended.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit, planting at the spacing recommended for mature vines (36 inches apart).
Harvesting
Harvest Casper pumpkins when the skin hardens completely and turns a pale ivory-white, which occurs around 110 to 119 days from planting. The pumpkin should feel solid when squeezed and resist puncturing with a fingernail. Cut fruits from the vine with several inches of stem attached rather than pulling them free, and allow freshly harvested pumpkins to cure in a warm, dry location for 7 to 10 days before storage or use.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita pepo
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Native Status
L48 (NI)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Casper Pumpkin carries its whimsical name from the beloved Casper the Friendly Ghost character, a naming choice that signals both its distinctive pale appearance and its cheerful temperament as a garden plant. The variety belongs to the Cucurbita pepo species, the same group that includes traditional orange jack-o'-lantern varieties, but Casper's white coloring and superior baking qualities suggest intentional selection for gardeners wanting both ornamental impact and culinary reliability.”