# @ahs_gardening on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DeRk0yol5U0
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/71418587-ahs-gardening-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/c08658ad04.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-10-09T13:05:55.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Horticultural Society | American Gardener Magazine (@ahs_gardening) — https://gondola.cc/ahs_gardening

## Caption

It’s pumpkin season again, and it’s got us thinking about the Grower’s Almanac in our September/October issue of last year. 🎃 ⁠
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Don’t be afraid, but your pumpkin pie might not be made from pumpkin. ⁠
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Most of the bright orange pumpkins we carve for Halloween are actually the same species as zucchini: Cucurbita pepo. While they might be great for jack-o'-lanterns, they’re often watery and less flavorful when it comes to pie. The real secret to a pumpkin pie? Squash. Specifically, varieties of Cucurbita moschata, including Dickinson’s pumpkin, the squash that forms the basis of most canned “pumpkin” products. ⁠
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Many gardeners and cooks argue that butternut squash makes an even better pie, thanks to a dense texture, vibrant color, and naturally sweet flavor. Other winter squashes, from Blue Hubbard to Kabocha, can also produce delicious results. ⁠
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For more on the truth behind your pumpkin pie, take a look at last year’s Grower’s Almanac at ahsgardening.org. ⁠
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Writer: Matt Mattus (matt_mattus) ⁠
📸 creds: Unsplash, Kerstin Wrba; Unsplash, Aaron Burden ⁠
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#pumpkins #wintersquash #pumpkinpie #gardening #gardenhistory #heirloomvegetables #notapumpkin #vegetablegarden #growersalmanac #americangardener #ahsgardening #americanhorticulturalsociety #fallgardening #gardenfacts

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## Tags

gardening, ahsgardening, wintersquash, vegetablegarden, heirloomvegetables, pumpkinpie, notapumpkin, fallgardening, growersalmanac, gardenfacts, americanhorticulturalsociety, gardenhistory, pumpkins, americangardener

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