The new trend this fall is oddly shaped, colorful specialty pumpkins

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — During the cool, crisp fall season, many people head to a pumpkin patch to pick their perfect pumpkin – and more and more people are opting for specialty pumpkin treats.

These colorful, wart-covered, oddly shaped pumpkins are jumping off the shelves.

“The person who really wants to decorate their porch or entryway is definitely more interested in these unique heirloom varieties. They are becoming more and more popular,” said Lyndsey Bridgers, marketing director at Merrifield Garden Center.

Most people purchase heirloom varieties for their Christmas decorations.

Some are stackable and flat. Others are rounded or even pointed and some have appendages. They come in different colors, shapes and sizes.

Perhaps the strangest pumpkins are those with uneven skins.

SEE ALSO |Americans are expected to spend a near-record $11.6 billion on Halloween this year

“These are actually bred for that quality, for their warty quality,” Bridgers said.

You’ll pay a little more per pound for the heirloom varieties, but the traditional orange pumpkins are still the best-selling varieties.

All pumpkins are edible. They taste a lot like butternut squash – but some are sweeter and others are savory. And they have strong nutritional value: rich in fiber, proteins, carbohydrates, antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamins and minerals.

For every decorating idea you have this fall, there’s a color, size and shape to suit.