Pumpkins are often a child’s first introduction to horticulture, and from their early history in the Americas to their future in space gardening research, they deserve a little more credit than just being a Jack O’Lantern. For home décor, especially for fall displays, it’s hard to beat pumpkins combined with corn stalks and hay bales.
All pumpkins are indigenous to America and were grown along with corn by native Americans, making them one of the first companion crops. Members of the ‘cucurbitaceae’ family, their close relatives are watermelon, gourds, squash and cantaloupe.
Recently a flurry of new pumpkin varieties has being developed. A bush-type variety, called ‘Spirit’, which has vines that spread only about three feet, delights pumpkin growers who have limited space. It is prolific, much like a zucchini, and harvesting a dozen or more ten to fifteen pound fruits is not uncommon. For more adventurous growers, there are various strains of the ‘Atlantic Giant’ available. They are bred for size. The winning entries in the World Pumpkin Confederation Weigh Off now exceed 1200 pounds! You would need a chainsaw to carve these monsters and a shovel and wheelbarrow to clean them out. They also look ugly. A much nicer giant is ‘Prizewinner’ which averages 90 to 100 pounds and actually looks like a pumpkin.
On the sweeter side, smaller is better. ‘Sugar’ or ‘pie’ pumpkins are the traditional varieties for pies. Grown from seed stock imported from China, Stokes Seeds Canada has introduced a series of small varieties like ‘Sweetie Pie’. Considered a delicacy in China, these miniature pumpkins fit nicely in the palm of your hand. They average only five ounces in weight, measure about three inches across and one inch deep – real giants! They are very attractive because of their pronounced ribbing and can be dried like gourds for neat table decorations. A white and orange striped variety, called ‘Pumkemon’, and a white one, called ‘Baby Boo’, cook up nicely too.
White pumpkins are all the rage, and varieties like ‘Lumina’ and the larger ‘New Moon’ and ‘Full Moon’ are all over websites like Pinterest as the latest and greatest. Flat ribbed varieties, like ‘Cinderella’, are hot too and very unique.
‘Little Lantern’, ‘School Time’ and ‘Orange Smoothie’ will be of interest to young pumpkin growers. They measure only five to seven inches across, but they really produce lots of little, five to eight pound fruits in eight weeks. They make great pies too. The tiniest are ‘PeeWee’ and ‘Kandy Korn Plus’ that are about the size of a softball and make great table décor.
Orange may be the traditional colour and white a great new novelty, but the colour palette has grown again. ‘Sunlight’, an attractive medium sized round pumpkin, is the first yellow. Pink anyone? ‘Porcelain’, truly a coral-pink, is something quite different. Blue anyone? Well ‘Blue Doll’ is a variety that looks more like a squash than a pumpkin, but its grey-blue colour is certainly unique. The All American Winner for this year is ‘Knuckle Head’, a nice orange with green warts all around its surface. Ugly? Yes but in an interesting, fun way.
Pumpkin seeds, which are very high in vitamins, are a delicacy in the Middle East. With the development of two new varieties, ‘Tricky Jack’ and ‘Lady Godiva’, there are now hull-less seeds, which can be eaten like peanuts when lightly roasted. From Japan comes a new edible seed variety called ‘Kakai’. It’s awesome, and its fresh seeds are sweet and nut-like.
We all know about those scrumptious pumpkin pies. Another delicious pumpkin dish is made by baking or steaming pumpkin meat, then seasoning it with butter, salt, pepper and molasses. Pumpkin bread and pumpkin cookies stuffed with raisins are popular favourites. In the Caribbean Islands, one of the staple foods is pumpkin soup.
The Land Pavilion in Epcot Centre at Disneyworld, Florida, is experimenting with pumpkins as a food source for space expeditions. Trained upward along ropes, the vines grow about thirty feet high and are loaded with perfect ten to fifteen pound pumpkins. It is nice to think that the Jack O’Lantern we carve on Halloween to keep the evil spirits away has a great history and an even brighter future. Let’s hear it for pumpkins!
