Kentucky Researchers Are Growing Some Seriously Cool Pumpkins

As we get into October, who's up for a little "Halloween science"? Sure, it's somewhat of an oxymoron, but hear me out. This summer and fall, the Rudolph Lab at the University of Kentucky Horticulture Research Farm grew nine different varieties of jack-o'-lanterns to compare their development and growth.

I know what you might be thinking..."Growing jack-o'-lanterns? Haven't we skipped a step?" From a layperson's point of view, I get it. But we're talking about pumpkins that are specifically grown for carving and decorating. In fact--and this is something I didn't know--jack-o'-lanterns are TYPES of pumpkins. All my life, I just thought they only became jack-o'-lanterns once they went under the knife.

These Kentucky Pumpkins Have Some Wild Names

Anyway, back to these nine pumpkin cultivars the UK lab grew. And what about those NAMES? If you think racehorses have cool monikers, what do you think about "The Boss," "Rocket," "Ghost Town," "Racer," "Early Giant," "Spicy Mocha," "Renegade," "Mellow Yellow," and "Kratos"?

The names are fun, but there was some serious horticultural research going on here. The Rudolph Lab wanted to see how those nine cultivars compared in growth and development, including the characteristics that matter when growers are deciding what kind of pumpkin they want to produce.

What Makes a Good Jack O’ Lantern Pumpkin?

When pumpkin growers get started, they consider things like size, shape, color, and maturity. And to that last point, pumpkins typically need 80 to 120 days to mature, depending on the cultivar and weather conditions.

That means the pumpkins we're carving this October were getting their start while most of us were still hanging out by the pool, sitting on the beach, and cranking up the air conditioning.

And if you're picturing nine nearly identical orange pumpkins sitting in a row, think again. Color, shape, and size are all characteristics that can vary from one jack-o'-lantern cultivar to another, which is part of the reason growers have so many choices when deciding what they want in their pumpkin patch.

So yes, there IS "Halloween science," and it's been spending every October on your front porch.