It’s Time To Find Your Great Pumpkin!

As we near Halloween, many of us will be heading out to local pumpkin patches for a day of fun-filled pumpkin hunting and good old fashioned Fall family fun. In our home, it’s a tradition to gather up all of the cousins and head out to the pumpkin patch for a day of corn mazes, hay rides, a petting zoo, apple cider, hot cocoa, giant pumpkins and more. Even if you don’t have children, the pumpkin patch is a really fun way to get out of the house and go and enjoy all that Autumn has to offer. In thinking about our upcoming pumpkin patch trip, I began to look around and see what all was going out there in pumpkin land. I found some really fun websites that had tons of fun trivia, information on the history of Halloween, the art of pumpkin carving, and yummy pumpkin recipes. This website, pumpkinpatchesandmore.org, is a wealth of Halloween information! According to the site, if you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin for carving, the things you really need to look for are: a pumpking that is visually appealing to YOU, a color that is evenly a deep orange. The shape is just whatever appeals to you.  If it grew on its side and has a flat spot, you can either make that the back, or use it as part of your design! Make sure your pumpking is free from cuts, soft spots, bruises. The flesh should feel hard, and not give easily.  Infections can invade easily and cause rot. Also, make sure the stem is attached. They also offer information on different varieties of pumpkins, their uses, and tips on how to grow your own for next year.

 

 

Want to know more about pumpkins? Check out these 27 pumpkin facts!

Pumpkins are fruits, a type of squash that cucumbers, squashes and melons.

Pumpkins are native to North America and have been domestically grown there for five thousand years.  

In 1584, after French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the Saint Lawrence region of North America, he reported finding “gros melons” (large melons). The name was translated into English as “pompions,” which has since evolved into the modern “pumpkin.”

Pumpkins are low in calories, fat, and sodium and high in fiber. They are good sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, potassium, protein, and iron.

The largest pumpkin ever grown was over 1100 by a man in Ohio, in 2000.

Pumpkins require a long hot growing season and loads of humus, manure and water.

Pumpkin seeds can be roasted as a snack. 

Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.

Pumpkins are used for feed for animals.

Pumpkin flowers are edible.

Pumpkins are used to make soups, pies and breads.

The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter and weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake.

Pumpkins are members of the vine crops family called cucurbits. They are easy to grow!   

Pumpkins originated in Central America.

In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.

Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.

Pumpkins range in size from less than a pound to over 1,000 pounds.

The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.

The name pumpkin originated from “pepon” – the Greek word for “large melon.”

The Connecticut field variety is the traditional American pumpkin.

Pumpkins are 90 percent water.

Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.

In colonial times, Native Americans roasted long strips of pumpkin in an open fire.

Colonists sliced off pumpkin tips; removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of pumpkin pie.

Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.

Native Americans called pumpkins “isqoutm squash.” – Try to pronounce that one!

Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.

So now that you know everything about pumpkins, get on line and find out where the nearest pumpkin patch is and go have yourself some good old fashioned Fall time fun! You’ll be glad you did.  For more tips, information, and fun facts about all things Halloween, check out this super fun page. Have any great Jack o’Lantern pics or tips to share with us? You can post it right here, or on our Facebook page!