Fall is in the air, and for many of us, pumpkin time has arrived. Many markets and nurseries have welcoming displays of the colorful “fruits.” Yes, we are told that pumpkins are technically berries, not vegetables! Who knew?
Pumpkins are members of the Cucurbita genus, a group of herbaceous vine plants that also include cantaloupes and watermelons. We are told that Indigenous North Americans have grown pumpkins for thousands of years, even before the cultivation of beans and corn.
Many farms are sponsoring “Pick Your Own Pumpkins Days,” and some are even displaying “Halloween Trees” made from carefully balanced circles of pumpkins, with large ones forming a circle at the base, and smaller ones creating “stars” at the top.
When scooped and carved for Halloween, pumpkins are called jack-o’-lanterns, a tradition that originated hundreds of years ago in Ireland. Of course, once placed outdoors, the cut/sliced pumpkin flesh is a magnet for all kinds of hungry bugs and critters. While some suggest that a bleach rinse be used to discourage such nibbles, it can be harmful to birds. A safer suggestion would be to use some apple-cider vinegar.
Some people avoid all carving, and just “paint” faces on their pumpkins. That’s not to say that the pumpkins are totally safe, however. For some homeowners, the answer is to use plastic or ceramic versions.
Interestingly, according to the guides at Colonial Williamsburg, in the 18th century pumpkins were used mainly to flavor beer and feed livestock! But, of course, the reality is that today pumpkins are used to make yummy soups, desserts and breads for us humans.
According to “History Stories,” the heaviest pumpkin was grown in Belgium in 2016 and weighed 2,624 pounds. The heaviest pumpkin in the U.S. was grown in New Hampshire in 2018 and weighed 2,528 pounds. The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was in Ohio in 2010, weighing 3,699 pounds and measuring more than 20 feet in diameter.
I’m reminded that I have some seasonal chores to accomplish. So, I think I’ll bake a pumpkin pie!
Yum!
