Toad Hybrid Pumpkin Seeds

A Charming, Warty Space-Saver!
Bush-habit plant sets big crops without all those sprawling vines!
Genus: Cucurbita
Species: pepo
Variety: Toad Hybrid
Item Form: (P) Pkt of 10 seeds
Days to Maturity: 85
Fruit Color: Orange
Habit: Upright
Seeds Per Pack: 10
Additional Characteristics: Direct Sow, Easy Care Plants, Edible
Harvest Season: Mid Summer, Early Fall, Late Summer, Mid Fall
Light Requirements: Full Sun
Moisture Requirements: Moist,  well-drained
Resistance: Heat Tolerant
Soil Tolerance: Normal,  loamy
Uses: Outdoor, Fall Color, Beds, Cuisine

85 days from direct-sowing.

Remember the old saying about having to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince? Well, this pumpkin is both “frog” and prince in one — a charming small, semi-hardshell variety with a nicely rounded shape, rich orange rind, and plenty of distinctive warts and bumps! Just the right size for autumn decor or mini jack o’ lanterns, Toad’s compact habit and big yields are truly a dream come true.

Round to teardrop-shaped pumpkins reach just 4 to 5 inches in diameter and about 5 to 6 inches high, with a very full, heavy form that stands up well and holds a long time after harvest (even in unseasonably warm weather). They weigh up to 2½ pounds, and offer thick, strong handles that won’t snap off like some varieties.

Best of all, the pattern of bumps and warts on Toad is determined by the weather, so every fruit will be different, and the whole crop will vary season to season, climate to climate. These bush-habit plants set big yields, so five it some support and watch your Halloween develop week by week in the garden.

Toad Hybrid is a semi-hardshell, with a nice deep orange color and shallow ridges. The handle reaches about 4 inches long, so these pumpkins are easy to grasp and handy for turning into lighted jack o’lanterns with lids. You will love the beauty, variety, and sheer abundance of Toad!

Pumpkins are exceptionally easy to grow. Sow the seeds outdoors when danger of frost is past, or start indoors in peat pots. Plant the seedlings (or thin to) 3 to 5 feet apart. Corn and beans are traditional pumpkin companions in a Three Sisters planting; other good friends in the pumpkin patch are nasturtiums, marigolds, oregano, and dill, all of which help repel pests such as squash beetles. Pumpkins also grow well with melons and with other varieties of squash. Pkt is 10 seeds.