This pumpkin is white on the outside, which makes it fun, but what makes it especially fun is that it’s orange on the inside! It’s great for eating too.

Then there are the Knucklehead pumpkins.

I love these pumpkins. To me Halloween is all about the “creep factor”, and nothing says creepy like anything covered in warts.

If you’re after something a little prettier, then my absolute favorite is the Porcelain Doll pumpkin.

It’s a pink, hybrid pumpkin that was bred specifically for breast cancer fundraising. As a bonus, it makes a great cooking pumpkin too.

If you’re looking for a more classic orange-colored pumpkin with a unique shape, look for the Cinderella pumpkin...

... or the Orange Hubbard squash ...

... or the Amber Cup squash, which has a multicolored, striated skin.

All three are interesting looking and all, like most of the other varieties, are edible.

My personal tastes for both decorating and eating leans toward the blue varieties. The blue Hubbard squash is among my favorites because it has such a great shape. (Beware though: you may need a hacksaw to cut it open for eating.)

The aptly named Australian Blue is another favorite.

Also known as the Queensland Blue, this pumpkin has a very distinct blue color and can have an unusual turban shape.

All of these varieties were found at local grocery stores and farmers’ markets, so they can be hunted down. Of course you can also hit the big world of Google and find sources where you can buy their seeds.

Karen Bertelsen

Karen Bertelsen is a Gemini Award nominated television host who has appeared on some of Canada's major networks including HGTV, W Network, Slice and MuchMoreMusic. She started the blog The Art of Doing Stuff (www.theartofdoingstuff.com) as a creative outlet for her writing and endless home projects. The Art of Doing Stuff now receives over half a million views per month and has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Style at Home and Canadian Gardening magazines.