Description
Small Sugar or Pie Pumpkin Seeds (Baking Type) 2070.
Classic 1880s New England Heirloom Famous for Making Rich, Sweet, Homemade Pumpkin Pies.
Small Sugar Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), also known as “Pie Pumpkin,” is the gold standard heirloom for baking traditional homemade pumpkin pies. Introduced in New England in the 1880s, this beloved variety produces high yields of uniform, round, bright orange fruits measuring 20 to 25 cm in diameter. Inside, the deep yellow-orange flesh is thick, finely grained, meaty, and exceptionally sweet—delivering the smooth texture and rich flavor needed for classic pies, soups, purées, and baked autumn treats. Beyond its superior baking qualities, Small Sugar stores remarkably well for winter cooking.
Quick Seed Details
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Product Code: 2070
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Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo ‘Small Sugar’
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Type: Open-Pollinated Heirloom Baking/Pie Pumpkin
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Fruit Size: Round, approx. 20–25 cm in diameter
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Storage Life: Good long-term winter keeper
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Plant Spacing: Space hills 2.4 m apart
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Light Requirement: Full Sun
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Soil Preference: Deep, rich, organic, well-draining soil (pH 5.5–6.5)
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Germination: 7–10 days in warm soil
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Seed Depth: 2.5 cm deep
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Seed Count: Approx. 15 seeds per packet (10–12 seeds per gram)
What you need to know to Plant & Grow
Pumpkins are heat-loving crops that thrive in full sun with organic-rich soil and careful transplanting to protect sensitive root systems.
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Direct Sowing (Recommended): Direct sow seeds outdoors from late May through early June once soil temperatures have warmed thoroughly. Plant seeds 2.5 cm deep in hills spaced 2.4 m apart, placing 4 to 6 seeds per hill. Thin to the 3 strongest seedlings per hill after emergence.
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Indoor Starting: In shorter-season regions, start seeds indoors 3 weeks before outdoor planting. Sow directly into paper or fibre pots to prevent root disturbance during transplanting.
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Soil Preparation & Care: Work generous amounts of rich compost or well-rotted manure into garden beds prior to planting. Keep soil consistently moist throughout the growing season.
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Harvesting & Storage: Harvest mature pumpkins before the first hard autumn frost when rinds turn a solid, rich orange and harden up. Cut from the vine leaving a sturdy stem section attached. Cured pumpkins store well in a cool, dry location for winter eating.
Why Small Sugar or Pie Pumpkin Seeds belong in Your Garden
If you want to bake authentic, rich pumpkin pies from scratch using a proven 19th-century heirloom, Small Sugar is an essential choice. Its high productivity, naturally sweet fine-grained flesh, and excellent storage qualities make it a favourite for Canadian home gardeners and bakers.
