How to GrowBest Pumpkin Varieties in India | Types of Pumpkins

With so many to choose from, people get confused about which one to grow? Learn all about Best Pumpkin Varieties in India to grow!

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

Pumpkin or Kaddu, as it is commonly called in India, is a rotund vegetable, rich in nutrients and minerals. The plant holds significant value for its flavourful fruit and ornamental capabilities. A variety of Indian dishes are prepared from pumpkins, for example, Kaddu ka Halwa and Agra ka Petha are some famous desserts that have pumpkin as their main ingredient. It also makes for an essential ingredient of the south Indian delicacies like Sambhar and Kashi Halwa. Here are some of the Best Pumpkin Varieties in India you can easily grow!

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Best Pumpkin Varieties in India

Common Indian Names: Kaddu, Petha, Kumrha, Kohala, Meetha Lau, Kumpalam, Halwa kaddu, Meetha kaddu, Kashiphal, Gummadi, Kumara, Kala Bhopala, Poosanikai, kollaano Velo, Kumbalakai, Mathanga.

There are many varieties of Pumpkin in India. Although the hybrid varieties are preferred by farmers when it comes to commercial cultivation, as these varieties produce a higher yield than those of regular varieties. These are some common varieties:

1. Arka Suryamukhi

The fruits of this variety are round in shape with oblate ends. They also have an orange color with white stripes appearing on them as they mature. The average weight of the fruit will be around 1 kg.

2. Arka Chandan

This variety has fruits that are medium in size with a light brown color and every fruit weighing around 2-3 kgs in weight. The crop matures in an approximate of 120 days.

3. PAU Magaz Kaddu-1 

This variety also has fruits that are round in shape and has medium-sized fruits that turn yellow as they mature.

4. Punjab Samrat

The fruits of this variety are small in size and green in color, but they turn brown as they grow.

5. PPH-1

This is early to mature variety that comes with dwarf vines. The fruits are small and round, which goes from blotchy green to brown as they mature.

6. PPH-2

The crop of this variety grows fast. The fruits are green but turn brown as they develop. Besides, these fruits are also round and light green. The only difference between PPH-1 and PPH-2 is the smoothness of the skin in the fruit, and also the PPH -2 has a better yield than the previous one.

Also Read: 12 Best Spring Vegetables To Grow in India

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How to Grow Pumpkin in Pots

Growing pumpkin in pots is not that difficult. Just a little care will give you surprising results, as they are less demanding vegetables. The following are the Instructables on how you can grow pumpkin in pots.

Propagating Pumpkins

You can grow pumpkins in pots with the help of seeds acquired from the fruit itself, but the whole process is tedious, and you may not even get the desired results. So it is better to get the crafted young plants that are healthy and pest resistant from a nearby nursery.

How to Choose a Pot

Another thing to keep in mind while potting the pumpkins is the size of the container that you are using, as the plant will have big and heavy fruits. They require a pot that is at least 10-15 inches in size for a small pumpkin variety, and if you are growing a large cultivar, then prefer a pot that is 20-25 inches wide and deep, with good drainage.

Growing Requirements

• Sunlight: Pumpkin can be perennial in tropical and subtropical zones like India. It requires a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight.
• Soil: Loamy soil, rich in organic matter, with a good drainage capacity, is ideal for growing pumpkins.
• Irrigation: These plants, just like other gourds, require plenty of water. So irrigate your plants deep and regularly.
• Support: As its fruits get heavy, you need to provide bamboo support to the plant, which is going to help it climb and keep the fruits intact.
• Fertilizer: Provide the plant with proper dozes of  Cow dung manure (Gobar khaad) in small periods, as they are heavy feeders and require a lot of it.

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Pumpkin Plant Care

Mulching

Mulch around your Pumpkin plant because it will help the plant hold the moisture for longer and reduce the water evaporation.

Diseases and Pests

Although the plant is quite hardy, it may get affected by a variety of diseases, especially powdery mildew. Keep the plant trellis way from the walls to avoid infections.