Howden Biggie

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Sink your senses into Howden Biggie’s rich, sunlit presence—thick-skinned and deeply ribbed, with a warm, classic orange that glows from garden to porch.

The flesh is dense and velvety, offering a satisfying bite that holds its shape beautifully for hearty, comforting preparations. Grow this vigorous, long-season pumpkin for standout centerpiece fruit and reliable performance at about 110 days to maturity.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 110 DaysHabit: Vine

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	May 9th
Harvest Begins	Aug 27th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	110
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	85
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Howden Biggie’s dense, low-sheen flesh roasts into caramelized, non-watery cubes—no thin puree, no sad stringiness. It’s made for the kind of rich pumpkin cooking where texture stays sculpted: puree that spoon-stands and pies that cut clean.

Best Uses

roasted cubes for caramelized edges and clean bite
thick pumpkin puree for velvety soups and risotto
baking: sturdy filling for pies that slice without slumping
pan-seared wedges or steaks for browning and scoopable texture

Flavor Profile

sweet, toasted squash notes dense, velvety flesh with minimal wateriness classic pumpkin spices take hold easily firm texture that stays cohesive when cooked

Kitchen Pairings

cinnamon ginger nutmeg brown butter sage cream

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common for Cucurbita pepo (Howden-type winter squash), and what should I do first?

A very common problem is powdery mildew, which shows up as a white, powder-like coating on the leaves later in the season. Remove the most heavily affected leaves early and improve airflow by spacing vines properly and avoiding overhead watering; treat promptly with a labeled fungicide for cucurbits if it keeps spreading. If you see rapid wilting with stem collapse, suspect vine disease (often linked to soil pathogens) and promptly remove affected vines to reduce spread.

How often should I water Cucurbita pepo during the main growing phase (after it starts vining)?

Water deeply about 1–2 times per week so the root zone gets consistently moist, aiming for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water weekly depending on heat and rainfall. Let the top couple inches of soil dry slightly between waterings, because soggy soil around roots can encourage rot in winter squash. During hot, dry weeks, check moisture by feel at 2–3 inches deep and water when it’s drying out there—not bone-dry.

How do I tell when Howden Biggie (Cucurbita pepo) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the rind is fully hardened (you can’t easily dent it with your thumbnail) and the stem has started to dry and turn corky. The fruit should reach its full color and look mature at around 110 days, and you should cut the squash from the vine with 2–3 inches of stem attached. Handle gently to avoid skin cuts, because damaged rinds won’t store well.