Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years. Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family, which includes cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelons and zucchini. They are a variety of squash , typically orange or yellow, that can range in size from a few inches across to several yards. Pumpkins must have full sun to grow well. They prefer rich, fertile soil with lots of organic matter.
Pumpkins are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and The world’s largest pumpkin, 1,725 poundspotassium. These plants are native to Central America and Mexico, but now grow on six continents. Pumpkins can gain thirty pounds in one day. Pumpkins are hand harvested either by farm crews or by consumers in pick-your-own situations. Pumpkins are an important part of the American celebration of Halloween on October 31st.
The world’s largest pumpkin was grown in Ohio by Christy and Nick Harp of Jackson Township and it weighed in at 1,725 pounds. Imagine carrying that home from the farm! The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter and weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin , 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six.
Pumpkin seeds can be roasted and eaten as a snack. The seeds are a good source of protein and zinc , and families usually have a surplus leftover after carving Jack-o-Lanterns. Pumpkin seeds have been credited as being one of nature’s perfect food. American Indians use the seeds for medicinal purposes. The general name for pumpkin seeds are pepitos. Indians call them curcurbita. They are high in magnesium, manganese, zinc, and copper. Pumpkin seeds are also helpful in lowering bad cholesterol.
