Pumpkin technically belongs to the squash family, but performs so beautifully as pie filling it is often considered a fruit.
Historically, pumpkin seeds have been used medicinally: American Indians chewed them to ward off kidney infections and parasites, and they were an official drug in the 19th century as a diuretic and worm remedy.
Pumpkins are ready to harvest when they are orange in color and the skin is hard, anytime before frost.
Pumpkins are a popular food, with their insides commonly eaten cooked and served in dishes such as pumpkin pie; the seeds can be roasted as a snack.
Pumpkins are grown today in the US more for decoration than for food, and popular contests continually lead growers to vie for the world record for the largest pumpkin ever grown.
When ripe, the pumpkin can be boiled, baked, and roasted, or made into various kinds of pie, alone or mixed with other fruit; while small and green it may be eaten in the same way as the vegetable marrow.
Feeds |
Contact