Photo: Seeds By DesignĪnd spherical varieties of Cucurbita moschata, like ‘ Long Island Cheese’ and ‘ Autumn Buckskin’ are also considered pumpkins due to their similar appearance, although their coloration tends to be more tan or brown than orange. maxima “pumpkins” from true pumpkins by their soft, smooth, soft handle with no ribbing. The popular ‘ Rouge Vif D’Étampes’, also sold as ‘Cinderella’, and said to look like a red cheesewheel, is another. Some winter squash varieties often called pumpkins come from other species of squash.Ĭucurbita maxima notably gives us giant pumpkins and blue pumpkins like ‘ Jarrahdale’. The blue pumpkin (here, ‘Jarrahdale’ comes from the species Cucurbita maxima. The “handle” (stem) is tough and fibrous, with 5 distinct ribs. pepo pumpkins are characterized by round fruit with a thick shell that has smooth, slightly ribbed skin and a deep yellow to orange coloration. Most varieties that we classify as pumpkins belong to the species Cucurbita pepo, which also includes other varieties of winter squash, plus summer squash such as zucchini et pattypan squash. These are all varieties of Cucurbita pepo. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Clockwise from top left: pattypan squash, yellow summer squash, zucchini and pumpkins. The pumpkin is a variety of winter squash ( Cucurbita), thus a member of the Cucurbitaceae family which includes several other popular vegetables, including cucumbers, melons and watermelons. Cook with pumpkin throughout the year to support heart health and healthy blood pressure. Pumpkin is excellent in baked goods, soups, casseroles, pasta, and sauces. Eating pumpkin provides numerous health benefits: they are high in fiber, potassium, iron, and vitamins A, B and C while being low in calories, fat, and sodium. Today, pumpkins are a staple for fall decorations and recipes. When Irish immigrants arrived in America in the 1800s, they brought this custom with them and applied it to pumpkins. Photo: The popular tradition of pumpkin carving was derived from an Irish custom of carving jack-o’-lanterns out of turnips and potatoes, and placing an ember inside to ward off evil spirits. The tradition of pumpkin carving was brought over from Ireland. American colonists changed that to pumpkin and that name has stuck. This became pompon in France, then pumpion in England. It originates from the Greek word pepon for large melon or something round and large. They cut the top off the pumpkin, removed the seeds, and filled the inside with milk, spices, and honey before baking it over hot ashes. This was the pumpkin pie served at the first Thanksgiving. They soon learned to cook pumpkins, creating a dish believed to be a precursor of modern pumpkin pie. Indeed, it was one of the crops they adopted from the native Americans after they landed in New England in 1620. Ill.: Many Americans associate the pumpkin with the Pilgrims. Painting representing the first Thanksgiving. It took a while for the new fruit to become widely accepted, but nowadays pumpkins are grown on every continent except Antarctica. He saw pumpkins in Florida in 1528 and is thought to have brought the first seeds back to Europe. It is believed that the first European to introduce the pumpkin to the Old World was Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. Over time, varieties with thicker, less fibrous flesh were developed and used for human consumption. Native Americans would also either roast and consume strips of pumpkin flesh, or dry the skins and weave them into mats. Originally, the fruit was small with a hard shell and was grown mostly for its edible seeds. Photo: Pumpkins are believed to have been domesticated in Mexico about 5500 B.C. Wild pumpkins are small and hard-shelled. Let’s look at the edible plant chosen for 2019, the pumpkin.įor many, pumpkins are associated with autumn, sweet desserts, and Halloween. It’s a great way to discover a new plant or to learn a bit more about a plant you may already be growing. Every year, the National Garden Bureau, a non-profit organization promoting the pleasures of home gardening, selects one annual, one bulb, one edible plant and one perennial to celebrate.
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