It was my very first plant I order online so I wasn’t sure what to expect but when it got here and in one piece and as long as it is I was shocked but very HAPPY.
Darling produces 4-6 lb upright, barrel-shaped fruits with dark orange skin, slight ribbing, and powdery mildew resistance; matures in 90-100 days with excellent handles.
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Cucurbita pepo Darling F1 Pumpkin
Cucurbita pepo Darling F1 Pumpkin is a charming, early-maturing hybrid variety valued for its unique upright shape and manageable size. Producing uniform fruit weighing between 6 to 8 pounds, this variety is an excellent choice for family gardens, small patches, and container growing where space is at a premium. Unlike sprawling giant pumpkins, Darling F1 features a restricted semi-bush vine habit, offering a tidy footprint while delivering a reliable harvest of tall, barrel-shaped pumpkins with smooth, deep orange skin and sturdy handles perfect for gripping by small hands.
Culinary and Practical Uses
- The dense, fine-grained orange flesh is excellent for baking, making it a superior "pie pumpkin" choice for homemade pies, muffins, and soups.
- Its smooth, slightly ribbed skin is ideal for painting and carving, serving as a long-lasting Jack-o'-Lantern that holds its shape well into the autumn season.
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The seeds are plentiful and delicious when roasted with spices, providing a nutritious snack rich in magnesium and antioxidants.
Characteristics
- Foliage: Large, lobed, dark green leaves that provide a dense canopy to protect fruit from sunscald; bred with intermediate resistance to powdery mildew.
- Growth Habit: Compact semi-bush/restricted vine that spreads less than traditional varieties; ideal for smaller vegetable plots or large raised beds.
- Flowers: Produces large, bright yellow, trumpet-shaped blossoms in summer that are edible and highly attractive to squash bees and bumblebees.
- Seeds: Harvested from the center cavity of the mature fruit; these are classic white pumpkin seeds that can be roasted or saved for replanting (though F1 hybrids may not grow true-to-type).
Growing Requirements
- Sun: Thrives in full sun; requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily to ensure vigorous vine growth and proper fruit ripening.
- Soil: Prefers rich, fertile, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.8; heavy feeders that benefit from compost or aged manure.
- Water: Requires consistent, deep watering (1-2 inches per week); avoid overhead watering to keep foliage dry and further reduce disease risk.
- Spacing: Plant seeds or transplants 3 to 4 feet apart in rows 5 to 6 feet apart to allow for airflow around the semi-bush vines.
- Maintenance: Monitor for squash bugs and vine borers early in the season; mulch beneath the developing pumpkins to keep them clean and prevent rot.
Shipping Info
Darling Pumpkin seeds ship as fresh, high-quality, viable seeds that are carefully packaged for stability and protection from damage during transit. Prompt shipping supports reliable germination and seasonally appropriate planting.
Growing Zones
3a - 11b
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Low Temperature
50°F
High Temperature
95°F
Fragrant
No
Polinator Required
Yes
Polinator Friendly
Yes
Flower Color
Green Yellow Orange
Growth Rate
Fast
Soil
Rich, fertile, well-draining soil
Moisture
Moderate
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Mature Spread
4 - 6 feet
Mature Height
12 - 24 inches
Bloom Period
Summer
Pruning Time
Early Summer
Pet Safe
Yes
Perennial / Annual
Annual
Evergreen / Deciduous
Deciduous
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Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.7 / 5 from 421 reviews.
It's doing really well. I will be transferring it to a bigger pot probably by the weekend. I wish I had a little more instructions on how to care for this variety, and what to do in the fall.
Plants arrived fine.. got them planted. Now i will let you know next spring. If they survive and grow back.. So far, i am ok with them
Erigeron Karvinskianus Fleabane ‘Santa Barbara/Mexican Daisy'
Just waiting for when they get big and tall and start producing bananas.
Plant arrived quickly and came in good shape!
Package came delivered just like it said it would I pulled it out it looked good. I put it in some water for about a half hour and put it in my 30 gallon tub and I got three things to go with it.
Banana tree came nice and healthy and ready to go!
****
Haven’t transplanted yet, but it’s a beautiful plant. We are gifting it to a friend that moved…Friendship Plant is very appropriate!
I love it
Truly tiny is still tiny but healthy!
It seems to be doing well but could have been packed better.
Blossom Dale did a wonderful job with packaging and Sedum Autumn Joy plants arrived in great condition and are thriving. So far so good.
The milkweed is not doing well...
Very healthy cutting. Followed the instructions and let it get acclimated to its new surroundings for a couple of weeks before repotting. Would not hesitate to purchase from this business again 😃
Plants arrived in great condition. This plant has only been in the ground about 10 days and is growing a lot. The plant cage is 12” tall so it’s doing well. I put guards around my new plants for a little while because I have bunnies who love tender young leaves.
Got this for my wife’s birthday. Plan to pot it soon.
I got 2 mystery plants (one indoor and one outdoor). The indoor was a pilea and the outdoor plant was a white blackberry. White blackberry was dramatic, but it’s making a comeback and the pilea is doing great!
Came in well packed and the plant was alive and healthy!
Even though the newest leaf was broken off it seems to be doing well
My little banana arrived happy and healthy!
The plant arrived well packaged with instructions on how to get started. It had been doing really well and has been growing like a weed!
It is just putting roots down now.
Received in great condition, transplanted just before heavy rain and its thriving
Just a little shock put her in a fabric pot on the back porch full sun should be happy thank you for the lovely plant
Fair price good looking plant can’t wait for it to get bigger!
Need to upgrade your packaging. I would suggest taping the plant in place in the cardboard tube on the count that it slid and smashed itself. Luckily, it's a strong plant and should recover. Hoping.for the best.
So Beautiful. Packaged well . Love my little guy.
It’s so cool I love it!!!
She is doing well even after a rough delivery. She is thriving and putting on new growth. Thank you.
The plant arrived after a few delivery reroutes. It came with three leaves two so far are healthy one was dying and has since died. The two remaining leaves appear to be doing well.
After overcoming the initial travel stress. The plants are doing well.
The follow up plants were very good
Customer service here is second to none! Very very happy and already made another purchase. But anyway, I ordered 1 and they sent me 2 beautiful babies! I'm so excited to watch them grow!
This little guy came in perfect. Despite the cat knocking it over and being placed in the soup cup for safer keeping, it’s thriving and happy. Once it’s bigger then it will make its way outdoors.
I like it very much and looking forward to eating some cherries
This is my first year of ordering live plants on line. I live in an apt, but have a nice size patio to do container planting. I'm waking up my green thumb and loving it.
Got a great little house plant for $9.99!!!
I am very happy for all the Butterworth I got extra like usual which was nice I put them all in pots for now I'll do my project later after they get growing thank you
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