Racer Plus

Family: Cucurbitaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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A deep, velvety orange glow—clean, bold, and wonderfully uniform—makes Racer Plus a standout Jack-O’-Lantern pumpkin with a satisfying, dense bite.

The rind is thick and sturdy with a classic pumpkin silhouette, holding its shape beautifully for carving-ready results while offering sweet, mellow flavor when roasted or simmered into hearty seasonal dishes. Grow it for a showpiece harvest: reliable, vigorous, and made to impress from vine to doorstep.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 95 DaysHabit: Vine

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Racer Plus 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)	85
Min Soil Temp (°F)	65
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Racer Plus is built like a carving pumpkin: thick-skinned and dense, so the interior cooks down into a sweet, controlled puree instead of going loose and watery. Roast it hard for caramelized edges, then turn it into velvety soup or sauce where it thickens as it cools.

Best Uses

roasted wedges and cubes that hold shape without turning watery
hearty purées and soups (blend smooth, then reduce for thickness)
seasonal braises where pumpkin chunks stay intact
seasoned carving-roast applications: hollow it, then roast the meat and save the seeds

Flavor Profile

sweet, mellow pumpkin flesh dense, clean bite with low wateriness thick rind that roasts into caramelized edges classic squashy aroma with a smooth finish

Kitchen Pairings

cinnamon ginger brown butter sage maple syrup creamy dairy (yogurt or crème fraîche)

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on Cucurbita pepo (Racer Plus zucchini/summer squash), and what should I do first?

A frequent problem is powdery mildew, which shows up as a white-gray coating on leaves and can reduce fruit size if it spreads. Start by removing the most heavily infected leaves and keep foliage as dry as possible with morning watering at the base of plants. If it’s worsening midseason, spray an appropriate labeled fungicide for cucurbits and reapply according to the label to protect new leaf growth.

How often should I water Cucurbita pepo during peak growth to avoid issues?

During the main growing phase, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Water deeply at the base of the plant, then let the top inch of soil dry slightly before watering again to reduce stress that can trigger blossom drop and encourage mildew.

How can I tell when Cucurbita pepo (Racer Plus) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully developed but still tender—typically around 95 days from planting, with the best eating quality coming before seeds harden. Check the fruit skin: it should be firm but not rubbery, and the surface should still look matte and smooth rather than thickened and dull. Use clippers to cut the fruit with a short stem, and harvest promptly to keep the plant producing.