The pumpkin is a native of North America and can be dated back to 7000-5500 B.C. The name “pumpkin” originated from a Greek word “pepon” meaning large melon and that is exactly what a pumpkin is. Record holding pumpkins easily weigh over 1,000 pounds!
Native American Indians ate pumpkins as a staple in their diets as they are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. The Indians would roast long strips of pumpkin in the open fire and eat them. They also dried strips and wove them into mats. Even the pumpkin flowers are edible.
When early settlers came to North America, the Indians shared the pumpkin and soon the colonists accepted the pumpkins as a staple in their diet. There are many recipes using pumpkins in dessert, stews, soups and bread. Then there is the favorite: Pumpkin Pie. The origin of the pumpkin pie is thought to have occurred when colonists sliced off the top, removed the seeds, filled the pumpkin with milk, spices and honey and then baked in the hot ashes of a dying fire. Yummy!
Did you know? Pumpkins are 90% water.
To have pumpkins ready by Halloween, the seeds need to be planted in late May or early June. Pumpkins need full sun and lots of room to grow. They should be planted in rows that are 4 to 6 feet apart. Plant 2 seeds in each hole and each hole about 2 feet apart. Once the seedlings have 3 or 4 leaves, thin them down to 1 plant every 2 feet. Keep weeds and insects under control.
By late August, the green pumpkins begin to change colors. There will be fewer flowers on the vines because all the plant’s energy is directed into the pumpkin. Once the pumpkins have a rich autumn color, it’s time for harvest. Leave several inches on the stem to help the melon stay fresh. Protect them from the frost and store in a dry, cool place and they will stay delicious all the way until spring.
Pumpkins come in a variety of colors. Some are white (Lumina), some are blue/green (Australian), and some are deep red-orange (Cinderella). There are giant-sized (Atlantic Giant) pumpkins and wee-bity (Munchkin) pumpkins. There are Buckskin pumpkins, Jack pumpkins, and Baby Boo pumpkins. There are pumpkins with smooth skin and there are pumpkins with warty skin. There is even a pumpkin called a Pie Pumpkin. And do you know why? Because it is just big enough to make one pumpkin pie, that’s why.
