Casper

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Casper to a garden.

Experience the cool, creamy allure of Casper—an elegant pumpkin with a luminous, ghostly white skin that feels smooth and firm to the touch.

Its flesh is rich and velvety, offering a mellow, sweet flavor that shines whether you roast it for caramelized depth, simmer it into silky purées, or turn it into comforting pies and hearty soups. A dependable 95-day performer, Casper brings a clean, show-stopping look to the garden and a versatile, spoonable harvest to your table.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 95 DaysHabit: Vine

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Casper Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	Jun 8th	Sep 11th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 29th	Sep 1st – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 29th	Sep 1st – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	Jun 2nd	Sep 5th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 29th	Sep 1st – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 27th	Aug 30th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 22nd	Aug 25th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 18th	Aug 21st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 18th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	May 9th	Aug 12th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	May 4th	Aug 7th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 24th	Jul 28th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 15th	Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Apr 6th	Jul 10th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 20th	Jun 23rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 23rd	May 29th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	95
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Casper’s flesh tends to go creamy and cohesive when cooked, so it doesn’t turn watery in purées or thin out when blended for soup. Roast it until the edges caramelize, then lean into warm spice and browned butter to make that mellow sweetness feel richer instead of flat.

Best Uses

roast and mash for a thick, spoonable purée
silky pumpkin soup—blend smooth and serve with a swirl
custardy pumpkin pie where the filling bakes up dense and creamy
braised or roasted wedges for caramelized edges and soft centers

Flavor Profile

mellow sweetness creamy, velvety flesh with low stringiness roasted caramel notes gentle pumpkin spice warmth

Kitchen Pairings

brown butter cinnamon ginger sage garlic maple syrup

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Solanum melongena (eggplant) and what should I do?

Eggplant most often suffers from early blight (Alternaria), which shows up as dark, concentric “target” spots on older leaves. Remove and discard badly spotted leaves, water at the soil line (not overhead), and improve airflow by spacing plants so leaves dry quickly after rain. If it keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide for tomato/eggplant early blight and reapply according to the label interval.

How often should I water Solanum melongena during its main growing phase?

During active flowering and fruit set, keep soil consistently evenly moist—aim for about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and rainfall. Water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone, and don’t let the soil dry out completely between waterings, which can cause flower drop and misshapen fruit. Mulch around plants to reduce rapid moisture swings, and avoid wetting the foliage.

How can I tell when my Solanum melongena ‘Casper’ is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit is glossy, firm, and has reached its full size (typically around 7–9 inches long) and before seeds become noticeable and dull. For best flavor, cut fruit with scissors or pruners, leaving a short stem, once the skin is fully white and still tight—overripe eggplant turns more spongy and can develop bitterness. Start checking from around day 95 (or earlier if your plants set fruit sooner).