Actually, it is a fruit; a rather BIG fruit. It happens to be one of the more familiar of winter squash, but is not too commonly eaten. Although it makes excellent pie, and provides edible seeds and flowers, pumpkin is more popularly known as jack-o’-lanterns or Cinderella’s ride to the ball. Pumpkin is not for every garden, since each big and coarsely foliated annual vine needs regular watering, rich soil and considerable space to grow all through summer to produce only one or two big fruit in autumn.
Most pumpkins are big and round, and have smooth and bright orange skin. Those grown for jack-o’-lanterns are brighter orange, and not quite as meaty. Those grown for pie are often a bit smaller and meatier, with a rustier orange color. The biggest pumpkins get too huge to move easily, but lack flavor. The flavors and densities of many weird modern varieties are as variable as the green, red, pink, yellow and white hues of their skins. Some pumpkins have been developed specifically for their seeds, which are known as pepitas, or are used for production of pumpkin seed oil.
I’m loving these pumpkin posts. I don’t grow them as I have only 10 feet by 30 to grow all my veggies. But I would grow a whole section of them and winter squash if I had space.
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I grew mine on the edge of the garden, where they could sprawl onto unused pavement. I did not want to get rid of the pavement, because it was of good quality, and I knew someone would want it for something eventually. The pumpkins only needed some newspaper underneath, but were not bothered by slugs and bugs on the pavement.
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Great strategy!
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Thank you. We did it to adapt to the situation, but I would probably do it again just to keep the pumpkins off the soil.
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My favorite thing with Halloween (that I am not a huge fan of either,) is to roast pumpkin seeds.
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As much as I do not like to admit it, I did like all the Jack-O’-lanterns that I needed to dispose of in the neighborhood where I used to live in town. Even after cutting out all the squishy or burned parts, I canned enough pumpkin for all the pumpkin pudding I could possibly eat until the following Halloween. I did not do much about the seed though, just because those Jack-O’-lantern type pumpkins do not make such great seed, and I am not too fond of them anyway. I can totally see how they would be an easy score for those who do like them.
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Nothing like homemade pumpkin pie 🙂
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It is even better when the neighbor makes it. I just provide the pumpkin.
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🙂
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