Mellow Yellow Pumpkins
Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Mellow Yellow pumpkins are large, averaging 25 to 27 centimeters in diameter and 27 to 30 centimeters in length, and have a uniform, round shape with prominent, vertical ribbing. The rind is smooth and bright yellow, connecting to a straight, rough, and brown-green stem. Underneath the rind, the ivory flesh is dense, firm, and crisp, encasing a central cavity filled with stringy pale-yellow fibers and oval, cream-colored seeds. When cooked, Mellow Yellow pumpkins develop a tender consistency and have a mild, earthy, and slightly sweet flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Mellow Yellow pumpkins are available in the fall through early winter.
Current Facts
Mellow Yellow pumpkins, botanically classified as Cucurbita pepo, are an early-maturing hybrid that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. The brightly colored winter squash is a new cultivar that was released in 2019 through select online seed catalogs. Considered a specialty variety, Mellow Yellow pumpkins are favored for their uniform shape, large size, and yellow rind. The pumpkins are primarily used as an ornamental decoration, often paired with other white and orange pumpkins in fall displays, but they can also be carved into jack-o-lanterns or utilized in cooked applications.
Nutritional Value
Mellow Yellow pumpkins are an excellent source of vitamins A and K and contain vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. The pumpkins also provide folate, vitamin E, and iron, which have been shown to help protect the immune system.
Applications
Mellow Yellow pumpkins are best suited for cooked applications such as baking, roasting, simmering, and grilling. The flesh can be sliced and roasted as an accompaniment to cooked meats, baked into casseroles, stirred into risotto or pasta, or diced and tossed into soups, stews, and chilis. The flesh’s mild flavor is also widely versatile and can be made into a puree, blended into hummus, made into butter, or utilized in baked goods such as cupcakes, pies, bread, muffins, and cakes. In addition to the flesh, the seeds can be cleaned, lightly salted, and roasted for a crunchy snack. Mellow Yellow pumpkins pair well with fennel, ginger, beans, rice, meats such as poultry and turkey, mushrooms, nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, and almonds, and spices such as vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The pumpkins will keep 2-3 months when stored in a cool and dark place.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Mellow Yellow pumpkins represent a new category of brightly colored, novel pumpkins that were developed through years of research and selective breeding at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station. With the breeding program led by researcher Brent Loy, the station has created over seventy new varieties of pumpkins, gourds, squash, and melons and is considered the longest-running breeding program in North America. Conducting field trials through the Macfarlane Research Farm, the Kingman Research Farm, and the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm, Loy intentionally develops varieties with high yields, improved resistance to diseases such as powdery mildew, and looks for unusual qualities to make the new varieties unique and appealing in the market.
Geography/History
Mellow Yellow pumpkins were created by breeder and researcher Brent Loy at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station. Located at the University of New Hampshire, the experiment station released Mellow Yellow pumpkins in 2019, and the pumpkins are primarily found through specialty grocers and farmers markets in the United States. Mellow Yellow pumpkins are also available through online seed catalogs for home garden use.
