Deciding on which pumpkin to grow depends on what you want to eventually do with it. You can grow pumpkins that weigh several hundred pounds, such as Atlantic Giant, Big Moon, and Prizewinner, or miniature varieties, such as Jack-B-Little and Wee-B-Little, which fit into the palm of the hand. Mid-size pumpkins, like Connecticut Field, Jackpot, and Trick or Treat, fall in between these two ranges and are good for carving.

Pie pumpkins have the advantage of both tasty flesh for baking and shells that can be easily carved. They generally weigh between 8 and 12 pounds, though smaller varieties like Baby Pam and Small Sugar weigh 6 to 8 pounds. Autumn Gold is a good choice for shorter growing seasons. While orange is the traditional pumpkin color, white pumpkins such as Casper and Lumina can add a “ghostly” presence to your garden.

Gourds fall into two categories: ornamental and hard shell. Ornamental gourds, Cucurbita pepo ovifera varieties, produce the small gourds often used in decorative displays. They’re distinguished by yellow blossoms that bloom during the day.

Hard-shell gourds, Lagenaria siceraria, are popular for crafts, as evinced by names such as Bird House, Long Handle Dipper, Large Bottle, and Wren House. They’re generally larger and heavier, and their white flowers bloom at night. A final choice is the Luffa cylindrica, also known as the loofah, dishcloth gourd, or vegetable sponge gourd.