Know your Pumpkins

Know your Pumpkins - Introduction

    • Pumpkins belong to the Marrow (Curcurbita) family.

    • They are typically orange or yellow and have many creases running from the stem to the bottom.

    • They have a thick shell on the outside, with seeds and pulp on the inside.

Know your Pumpkins - Botany

Female pumpkin flower

    • Pumpkins generally weigh 9–18 lbs (4–8 kg) with the largest (of the species C. maxima) capable of reaching a weight of over 75 lbs (34 kg).

    • The pumpkin varies greatly in shape, ranging from oblate to oblong.

    • The rind is smooth and usually lightly ribbed.

    • Although pumpkins are usually orange or yellow, some fruits are dark green, pale green, orange-yellow, white, red and grey.

    • Pumpkins are monoecious, having both male and female flowers on the same plant.

    • The female flower is distinguished by the small ovary at the base of the petals.

    • These bright and colourful flowers have extremely short life spans and may only open for as short a time as one day.

    • The colour of pumpkins is derived from the orange pigments abundant in them.

    • The main nutrients are lutein and both alpha and beta carotene, the latter of which generates vitamin A in the body.

Know your Pumpkins - Varieties

    • There are a wide range of varieties falling into these categories:

Cucurbita Moschata

    • This group of primarily squash includes the pumpkins frequently used for commercially canned pumpkins.

    • Commercial pumpkin varieties usually have a tan-coloured skin.

Cucurbita Pepo

    • These are the Jack-o-Lantern pumpkins you carve on Halloween, as well as the cute little miniature pumpkins that fit in the palm of your hand.

    • The traditional Jack O'Lantern is a particular variety officially known as the Connecticut Field Pumpkin.

    • Some of the most popular varieties include:

      • Connecticut Field pumpkin

      • Howden pumpkin

      • Howden Biggie

      • Jack B. Little Miniature pumpkins

Cucurbita Maxima

    • Maxima, as it's name implies, are the giant pumpkins.

    • Giant pumpkin growing has become a very popular hobby.

    • Giant pumpkin growers are among the most devoted, and perhaps fanatical of gardeners.

    • The uniqueness of this variety lies in its production of fruits more massive than those produced by any other plant in the world.

    • Fruit can exceed 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter.

    • The heaviest Atlantic Giant on record weighed 1,810.5 pounds (821.2 kg) and was grown in Wisconsin in 2010.

    • Popular giant pumpkin varieties include:

      • Atlantic Giant pumpkin

      • Big Max pumpkins

Know your Pumpkins - Cuisine

    • Pumpkins are very versatile in their uses for cooking.

    • Most parts of the pumpkin are edible, including the fleshy shell, the seeds, the leaves, and even the flowers.

    • In the United States, pumpkin is a very popular Halloween and Thanksgiving staple.

    • Although most people use store-bought canned pumpkin, homemade pumpkin purée can serve the same purpose.