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There is a new world record for the heaviest pumpkin, weighing in at 3,156 pounds on Oct. 10. The pumpkin was grown by Ron Wallace and verified at the Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off at Frerichs Farm in Warren, Rhode Island.
This is the first pumpkin or any fruit to weigh in over 3,000 pounds, truly making this a major milestone in the history of the pumpkin cultivation.
We think of pumpkins as a vegetable, but they are biologically considered a fruit. Along with other forms of squash, pumpkins are easy to grow. They were a favorite with the English colonists that became acquainted with them prior to arriving in the New World. During the three-day meeting between English colonists and the Wampanoag Tribe -- which is known as the first Thanksgiving -- pumpkins could have been included in the feast.
If they were served, they were more likely cooked as a savory dish, not a dessert.
Our word pumpkin comes from the Greek word pepon, meaning large melon. It is believed that the pumpkin originated in North America, with the oldest evidence beginning in Mexico and dating back to 5500 B.C.
Since some squash share the same botanical name as pumpkins, the names are frequently interchanged. In general, pumpkins have larger, firmer and more rigid stems while squash stems are generally softer, rounded and flared when joined at the fruit. The traditional jack-o-lantern pumpkin grown is the Connecticut field variety.
According to an Ohio State University fact sheet, squash and pumpkins are similar but there is great confusion in differentiating between the two. The five species of cucurbitaceae, which originated in the Americas, are defined as pumpkin, squash, gourds, cucumbers and melons. Pumpkins are the edible fruit of any species of cucurbita used when ripe as a table vegetable or in pies; the flesh is somewhat coarse and strongly flavored; hence, it is not generally served as a baked vegetable.
Summer squash is the edible fruit of any species of cucurbita, commonly C. pepo, used when immature as a table vegetable. Winter squash is the edible fruit of any species of cucurbita used when ripe as a table vegetable or in pies. The flesh is usually fine-grained, of mild flavor and suitable for baking. There are five types of summer squash, seven types of winter squash and 23 types of pumpkins.
Usually, pumpkins are either orange or yellow, however some are dark green, pale green, white, red or gray. The color of the pumpkin comes from the orange pigment, which is abundant in the pumpkin. Pumpkins contain lutein and both alpha and beta carotene, which generate vitamin A in the body.
Pumpkins have both male and female flowers, which are bright and colorful. The flowers have an extremely short life span, usually only a day.
Pumpkins are grown all around the world except in Antarctica with the United States, Mexico, India and China being the largest growers. The top producing states are Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.
Pumpkins are rather hardy, and even if a plant is damaged, a secondary vine will quickly grow to replace what was damaged or removed, however pumpkin plants need water and cannot tolerate cold temperatures. Pumpkins, which are 90% water, draw moisture from the soil and need at least six hours of sunlight a day.
Most parts of the pumpkin are edible. Our traditional Thanksgiving pumpkin pies are usually made from store-bought canned pumpkin, however fresh pumpkin puree is also used. Pumpkins can be boiled, baked, steamed or roasted. In some areas the seeds scooped out of a jack-o-lantern are roasted and eaten.
Research has shown that compounds found in pumpkins successfully promote the regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells in diabetic rats, thereby boosting the level of insulin in their blood. Scientists feel that these compounds could reduce the diabetics' painful injections. More than 230 million people are diabetic, which is almost 6% of the world's population.
This year the farmers have had a bumper crop of pumpkins, most of which will go for jack-o-lanterns, cattle feed and for fall decorations. The pumpkin pie that Mary Alice will make this Thanksgiving will cure any ailments that I have.
Before retiring I often received calls during October from folks asking what had chewed on the pumpkins set out for decoration. My answer was always squirrels. Squirrels are among the most common animals that could end up feasting on pumpkins used for decorations. The squirrels' strong sense of smell allows them to find pumpkins. They will gnaw your pumpkins until reaching the seeds.
By now everyone has carved jack-o-lanterns from pumpkins. However, I have been seeing more painted pumpkins instead of carved pumpkins. The custom of cutting out jack-o-lanterns comes from an Irish legend about a never-do-gooder named Jack. It seems Jack invited the devil to have a drink with him. Now, the devil accepted on the term that Jack would pay for the drink.
Jack bellowed, "Why should I do that? Why don't you change into a sixpence and pay for the drink yourself." The devil did what Jack suggested. Jack quickly grabbed the sixpence and put it in his pocket, which had a cross embroidered on it. Since devils are afraid of crosses, he begged Jack to let him out of the pocket. Jack agreed to let him out but made the devil promise that he would not bother him for a year. The devil agreed to this.
One year later, the devil came looking for Jack and found him under an apple tree.
"Your year is up, and I've come for your soul," announced the devil. "Fair is fair." said Jack "But before I give you my soul, I'd like to ask for one last favor. Can you climb this apple tree and get me an apple so I won't be hungry in hell."
The devil climbed the tree while Jack quickly carved a cross on the trunk of the apple tree. When the devil found out that Jack had tricked him again, he was furious. However, he agreed to give Jack ten more years before he claimed his soul.
Before a year was up, Jack's luck ran out, he passed away. When he got to the gates of Heaven, he was turned away because of his rowdy life. He then went to see the devil, but the devil did not want him for nine more years.
"What shall I do?" Jack asked. The devil told Jack he would have to roam the earth for the next nine years. "But what will I use for a light?" Jack inquired. The devil threw Jack a red-hot piece of coal. Jack quickly put the hot coal in a turnip and ever since has been roaming the earth looking for a place to rest.
The Scots and Irish called these lit up turnips bogies.
Bill Bower is a retired Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Officer. Read his blog and listen to his podcasts on the outdoors at www.onemaningreen.com.