Iran Photo: Iran, David MacTavish, Hutchinson Farm, Burlington, ON, September 14 2012

Grown at Hutchinson Farm since 2012. Available mid-September - October.

Genus: Cucurbita maxima
Height: 6 - 10"
Width: 8 - 15"
Weight: 10 - 20 lbs
Colour: Grey with orange and white splotches
Skin Texture: Smooth with light ribbing
Flesh: Orange

“Iran” is the rarest pumpkin we grow. It was first cataloged by the United States Department of Agriculture from seed collected in 1940 at Torbat-e-Heydariyeh, in north eastern Iran. The seed remained in storage until the 1990’s when it was rescued by seed-man Glenn Drowns. It is a magnificent pumpkin, an absolute beauty.

Jack-o'-Lanterns: Iran has thick flesh, but it is fairly soft so carving is not a problem. Its thick flesh is uncommon for such a small pumpkin giving it a strong three dimensional effect when carved, something you don't often see on similar sized pumpkins. The dark grey skin is an added bonus.

Culinary: Amy Goldman describes it as “boiled turnip pablum”! .