Cucurbita pepo Pik A Pie F1 – Dark orange Halloween pumpkin in household size

Cucurbita pepo Pik A Pie F1 is a decorative and practical pumpkin perfect for both gardening enthusiasts and home cooks. The dark orange fruits are an ideal household size of approximately 2 kg, making this pumpkin easy to handle and versatile in the kitchen. Besides its culinary uses, Pik A Pie F1 is also an excellent Halloween and ornamental pumpkin, thanks to its attractive color and sturdy stem.

Key Features

Pik A Pie F1 combines high-quality ornamental value with practicality. The fruits are dark orange, firm, and well-formed, weighing approximately 2 kg (4.4 lbs), ideal for pies, soups, casseroles, or simple decorations in the home or garden. The variety has a compact growth habit and moderately vining habit, making it suitable for smaller gardens or vegetable plots.

• Fruit color: Dark orange

• Fruit weight: Approximately 2 kg

• Use: Kitchen and decoration

• Maturation time: 85 days

• Ranking behavior: Moderate ranking

• Planting distance: Depending on the tendril behaviour

Decorative value

Thanks to its deep orange color and strong stem, Pik A Pie F1 is ideal for Halloween decorations or autumn arrangements. The compact and uniform fruits are easy to carve for lanterns or other creative uses, while also having a long shelf life when harvested and stored correctly.

The variety is virus-tolerant, meaning it produces healthy and reliable harvests, even under conditions that would make other pumpkins vulnerable. This makes Pik A Pie F1 particularly suitable for home gardeners striving for consistent quality and bountiful harvests.

Cultivation and care

Pik A Pie F1 grows best in warm, well-drained soil. The seeds can be pre-sown from late April or sown directly in the ground from early May. The optimal germination temperature is between 24–30°C. When sowing, it is advisable to place the pointed end of the seed downwards or flat, and not to keep the seeds too moist. After germination, the young plants deserve a brighter and cooler location for optimal development.

• Sowing period: End of April for planting out or directly from the beginning of May

• Optimal germination: 24–30 °C

• Planting distance: Depending on the tendril behaviour

The variety grows moderately as a vine, so the plants don't take up too much space. For optimal results, it's recommended to give the plants sufficient space so the fruits can fully ripen and retain their dark orange color and firm structure.

Harvest and ripening

With a ripening time of approximately 85 days, Pik A Pie F1 is one of the fast and reliable varieties. The fruits reach an ideal size of 2 kg and retain their firmness and color, which is beneficial for both ornamental and culinary use. Thanks to its compact growth, multiple plants can be planted in a small space, ensuring high and consistent yields.

Benefits of Pick A Pie F1

1. Ideal household size – approximately 2 kg per fruit, perfect for kitchen and decoration.

2. Dark orange Halloween pumpkin – striking color and sturdy stem.

3. Virus tolerant – healthy and reliable growth pattern.

4. Compact, moderately climbing growth – suitable for smaller gardens and vegetable beds.

5. Fast maturing – ready to harvest in 85 days.