Type
pie pumpkin
Pumpkin variety
Small Sugar Pumpkin
A classic small pie pumpkin with sweet, fine-textured flesh. Fruit size is manageable and well suited to home cooking.
Days to maturity
100 to 105
Best for
pies, puree
About Small Sugar
Small Sugar, also sold as New England Pie, is a heirloom cooking pumpkin weighing about 5 to 8 pounds. It has a fine-grained, sweet, comparatively dry flesh and a smooth, lightly ribbed orange rind, which makes it a longtime favorite for pies and purees. The vines are moderately sized and reliably set several fruit each.
Growing Small Sugar Pumpkin
Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart in rows around 6 feet apart, and expect roughly 100 days to maturity. Even watering helps develop the sweet flesh, while mulch keeps fruit off damp soil and reduces rot. Harvest when the pumpkins are fully colored and the rind resists a thumbnail, then cure them in a warm spot for a week or two to deepen sweetness before cooking or storing.
Full growing guide
For planting dates, care, and harvest that apply to all pumpkins, see the complete guide.
How to grow PumpkinsOther pumpkins varieties
Variety characteristics are general guidance for US home gardens; performance varies by climate, soil, and season. Seed and plant availability differs by supplier. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.