Miniature pumpkins. © Denzil Green / 2005.
Miniature Pumpkins are a category of very small pumpkins grown as ornamental pumpkins.
Very small ones are about 7 ½ cm (3 inches ) wide, and weigh about 500 g (1 pound) or less.
They can be white or orange or another colour, ribbed or not ribbed. The flesh inside can be yellow or orange.
They are so small that they can be grown on trellises without their weight tearing them off the vine.
They are also edible. Flattened ones in general are sweeter and less watery; rounded ones in general tend to have more pulp in the middle and be more watery.
Cooking Tips
To stuff and bake them:
- Make the top into a lid by cutting a circle around the handle;
- Scrape out the pulp and seeds, as well as some flesh to give you more room inside;
- Give the pumpkins a head start without the stuffing by baking them for half an hour in baking dish with an inch or so of water around them, with the lid on;
- Remove from oven, stuff with your stuffing;
- Discard water, return to baking pan, and bake.
Miniature pumpkins. © Denzil Green / 2005.