White pumpkins are, well, ghostly (con't)

The pumpkins become more and more popular each year because they are still rather novel.

And the more people see them, the more the word spreads, says George Wonnacott of Rupp Seeds in Chatham, which sells a wide variety of pumpkin and squash seeds to growers.

Nevertheless, “it’s definitely a niche market,” he says.

“My focus in marketing them with our clients is to mix them with the other colours because people don’t know what to do with them when they see a white pumpkin."

But if they see one white one between two orange ones they’re more likely to pick the white one up, he said.

Even using the term ghost pumpkin helps to sell them, he said.

The Bousabas grow them in their field behind the roadside stand.

People buy because “it’s something different,” George says.

They’re “very popular with kids,” Mimi adds.

”They’re different, they stand out.”

White pumpkins really are essentially the same as orange except for, well, the colour.

They have the same 80-125 day growing season, Wonnacott said.

They also are as easy to cut as orange and have the same amount of seeds.

But they’re a little sweeter, according to George.

“People use them for pies.”

One feature of white pumpkins is that they offer a more contrasting canvas if someone wants to draw on them.

Mimi says some families buy both orange and white pumpkins.

Some households use them for fall table displays.

And, yes, Martha Stewart long ago showed off white pumpkins, which apparently have some cachet with the home decorator set.

Wonnacott says you can even buy pumpkins that are red or blue in colour.

But first you have to find one.

WindsorOntarioNews.com