Jarrahdale Pumpkin

Jarrahdale Pumpkin. USDA / flickr / 2016 / Public Domain

Jarrahdale pumpkin (aka Jarradale, aka squash) is flattened, with heavily ridged, rough-grey coloured rind with a tinge of blue in it.

The squash grow to be about 25 to 30 cm 10 to 12 inches) wide, and weigh about 2 ¾ to 4 ½ kg (6 to 10 pounds .)

Inside, they have a small seed cavity, with firm, golden yellow flesh that has a mild taste and is slightly sweet. In Western Australia, it has become an important agricultural product for its culinary use. ^[1]Herrington, Mark, et al. VG96010. Pumpkin Varietal Improvement. Gordon, NSW, Australia: Horticultural Research & Development Corporation. 2000.

Coloration may vary from greyer to bluer, depending on maturity and the particular strain. Different strains have been developed to increase resistance to various viruses attacking it during growth. ^[2]Herrington, Mark, et al. VG96010. Pumpkin Varietal Improvement.

95 to 100 days from seed.

Jarrahdale Pumpkin. Emilian Robert Vicol / Pixabay.com / 2010 / CC0 1.0

Jarrahdale pumpkin still ripening on the vine. Lankiveil / wikimedia / 2011 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Storage Hints

Stores well.

History Notes

Jarradale squash was developed from a cross between Blue Hubbard and Cinderella squashes. Its coloration is attributed to the Blue Hubbard, and its shape to the Cinderella.

According to Western Australian gardening writer Vicki Boxell in 2014, it actually was developed in its namesake Western Australian town of Jarrahdale: “The Jarrahdale Pumpkin is a local variety developed in the town of Jarrahdale.” ^[3] Boxell, Vicki. Edible and Useful Plants for the Swan Coastal Plain. Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia: Self-published. 2014. Page 120.

As of 2019, Cooksinfo has not found any information on who exactly the developer was.

Jarrahdale, Perth, Western Australia. SeanMack / wikimedia / 2007 / CC BY 3.0