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A few years back, I grew two little pumpkins that changed everything about how I look at fall.
They weren’t just any pumpkins — they were Sugar Pie Pumpkins, the small, sweet kind that bakers love for their creamy texture and rich flavor. I planted them in our raised hugelkultur beds here in Texas, and five months later, I was turning those homegrown pumpkins into the best Brown Sugar Brandy Pumpkin Pie my family had ever tasted.
Everyone kept asking for seconds — and another pie!
Here’s exactly how I did it — from planting the seeds to serving the pie at Thanksgiving dinner.
🌱 Why I Chose Sugar Pie Pumpkins
Sugar pie pumpkins are ideal for both decorating and baking. They typically weigh 2–4 pounds, have dense, sweet flesh, and store beautifully.
They also make adorable autumn decorations for your home before you cook them — mine sat by our fireplace for a couple of cozy weeks, glowing orange in the light of the fire before I finally turned them into dessert.
What I used:
Sugar Pie Pumpkin Seeds – reliable germination and sweet flavor.
Organic Compost Mix – to enrich the hugelkultur layers.
Soaker Hose Irrigation Kit – my favorite time-saver for the Texas heat.
Sugar pie pumpkins do well in Texas, but they need a long growing season — about 120–150 days. That means planting early and giving them consistent care pays off big time by fall.
🌿 Preparing the Garden Beds
We used our raised garden beds with hugelkultur, which is a fancy word for “logs, branches, and organic matter layered under soil.”
This technique helps retain water and release nutrients slowly — perfect for long-term crops like pumpkins.
Here’s what I did:
1. Layered logs, branches, and compost at the bottom of the bed.
2. Added rich topsoil mixed with aged manure and organic compost.
3. Installed a timed irrigation system using hoses with tiny holes along their length — soaker-style.
That setup made all the difference. Even in the Texas heat, my pumpkins stayed hydrated and thrived.
If you’re building raised beds from scratch, I love these galvanized steel raised beds — they last for years and look beautiful beside our coop and garden.
🌞 Planting and Care
Sugar pie pumpkins love full sun and warmth.
When to plant: Late April to early June is ideal in Texas.
Spacing: Each plant needs 4–6 feet of room to spread its vines.
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy — my soaker hose system ran twice a day for 10–15 minutes.
Fertilizing: Once vines start running, feed with organic liquid fertilizer or compost tea every few weeks.
I watched the vines trail along the garden, dotted with huge yellow blossoms that soon turned into tiny pumpkins. Each week felt like a little victory.
🧡 Harvesting and Curing
After about five months, the vines began to yellow and the pumpkins turned a deep, solid orange with hard rinds. That’s how you know they’re ready.
I cut them from the vine, leaving a couple inches of stem attached, and let them cure in a warm, dry spot indoors for about 10 days. This helps the skin toughen and the sugars develop fully — a trick that makes your homemade pumpkin puree taste richer and sweeter.
Pro tip: I set mine on a simple bamboo drying rack near the window — it kept them well-ventilated and out of the way.
🎃 Decorating Before Baking
For a week or two, my two little pumpkins became our fall decorations. I set them beside the fireplace with a few pinecones and candles — it gave our home that rustic, cozy harvest feeling.
Then came Thanksgiving.
🥧 From Harvest to Pie: Brown Sugar Brandy Pumpkin Pie
When it was finally time, I roasted those pumpkins whole, scooped out the soft flesh, and pureed it into silky perfection.
Then I baked my Brown Sugar Brandy Pumpkin Pie — rich, buttery, full of spice, and deeply caramelized. The brandy added just enough warmth to balance the sweetness.It was the best pie I’ve ever made. Everyone agreed — and begged for another one.
You can find the full recipe here → Brown Sugar Brandy Pumpkin Pie Recipe
🌾 Tips for Growing Sugar Pie Pumpkins in Texas
Start early. Texas heat helps, but they need 5 months to mature.
Mulch heavily. It keeps roots cool and retains moisture.
Pollinate by hand if you have limited bees — use a soft paintbrush to transfer pollen between flowers.
Harvest before the first frost. These pumpkins won’t tolerate a cold snap.
Save seeds from your healthiest pumpkin for next year’s crop.
🍂 Why It’s Worth It
There’s something deeply satisfying about growing food you actually cook and share. Those two pumpkins weren’t just vegetables — they were memories.
They taught my kids patience, care, and the joy of harvest.
When you pull a pie out of the oven that started as a seed you planted months ago, it’s not just dessert — it’s gratitude you can taste.
🌙 Related Posts:
Brown Sugar Brandy Pumpkin Pie Recipe
10 Essential Fall Baking Tools
Moonprint Academy 