- Pumpkins are fruits. A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae), which include squash, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.
- There are more than 50 different kinds of pumpkins.
- Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years. They are indigenous to the western hemisphere. Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.
- Pumpkins contain vitamin A and potassium.
- Long ago, the colonists made pumpkin pie a bit differently. They sliced off pumpkin tops, removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. Then, it was baked in hot ashes.
- There are about 500 seeds inside every pumpkin.
- Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. - Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.
- Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
- 2010 saw a new World Record! The largest pumpkin ever grown stands at 1810.5 pounds. It was grown by Chris Stevens and was weighed at the GPC weigh-off in Stillwater, Minnesota on October 9, 2010.
- For tips on how to carve your pumpkin, check out this link:
http://www.pumpkinmasters.com/video.asp
1 comment:
It's true, there's an enourmous variety of this wonderful fruit/veggie. Because of this, recently I had to think a while to figure what sort of pumpkin would be best for pumpkin cupcakes. I chose butternut, and did not regret! Super yummy.
: )) Ciao, Gio
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