Lumina

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Sink your senses into Lumina’s luminous presence—an elegant, warm-toned pumpkin with a smooth, satin skin that catches the light like polished parchment.

Expect a dense, fine-grained interior with a gently sweet, mellow flavor profile, ideal for roasting until caramelized at the edges and for silky purées in autumn sauces. A reliable 95-day performer, Lumina brings show-stopping color to the garden and dependable harvest quality to the season’s table.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 95 DaysHabit: Vine

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Lumina 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	May 25th	Jun 8th	Sep 11th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	May 15th	May 29th	Sep 1st – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	May 15th	May 29th	Sep 1st – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	May 19th	Jun 2nd	Sep 5th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	May 15th	May 29th	Sep 1st – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	May 13th	May 27th	Aug 30th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	May 8th	May 22nd	Aug 25th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	May 4th	May 18th	Aug 21st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	May 1st	May 15th	Aug 18th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 25th	May 9th	Aug 12th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Apr 20th	May 4th	Aug 7th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Apr 10th	Apr 24th	Jul 28th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Apr 1st	Apr 15th	Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 23rd	Apr 6th	Jul 10th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Mar 6th	Mar 20th	Jun 23rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Feb 9th	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)	85
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	12

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Lumina’s fine-grained, dense flesh turns creamy without getting stringy, so it purées into a velvety texture that clings to pasta or spoons cleanly. Roast it hot to draw out a warm, caramel-nut character—then let sage and brown butter do the rest.

Best Uses

roast wedges until the edges caramelize for chewy-sweet, spoonable bites
silky purée for velvet soups and autumn pasta sauces
sheet-pan roasting with woody herbs for a caramel-forward side
bake into custardy pies or crumbles where the flesh stays cohesive

Flavor Profile

gently sweet, mellow pumpkin flavor dense, fine-grained flesh smooth, satin mouthfeel when cooked roasting brings caramelized edges and nutty warmth

Kitchen Pairings

sage brown butter cinnamon ginger smoked paprika garlic

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease issue for Cucurbita pepo (squash/gourds) and how do I treat it?

Powdery mildew is a frequent problem on Cucurbita pepo, showing as a white, dusty coating on leaves and causing them to yellow early. Remove and discard heavily infected leaves, then improve airflow by training vines off the soil and spacing plants as the label recommends. Spray a labeled fungicide for powdery mildew on squash/gourds early at the first sign, and avoid wetting leaves when watering.

How often should I water Cucurbita pepo during its main growing phase?

During active vine and fruit growth (roughly from flowering through the bulk of fruit set), water deeply to keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Aim for about 1–1.5 inches (2.5–3.8 cm) per week, increasing frequency during hot spells, and water at the base so the foliage stays dry. Let the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil dry slightly between waterings to prevent root stress and fungal spread.

How can I tell when my Cucurbita pepo is ready to harvest at about 95 days?

Harvest when the fruit has reached full size for its type and the skin is firm and hard, with a matte surface rather than glossy. Use your thumbnail to test—if it can’t easily puncture the skin, it’s ready. Cut with pruning shears leaving 1–2 inches of stem, because waiting for the stem to fully dry out can reduce shelf life.