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| '''Pumpkin''' is a ]-like ] of the genus '']'' and the family '']'' (which also includes gourds).<ref name="itis"></ref> It is a common name of or can refer to ]s of any one of the species '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. | '''Pumpkin''' is a ]-like ] of the genus '']'' and the family '']'' (which also includes gourds).<ref name="itis"></ref> It is a common name of or can refer to ]s of any one of the species '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. | ||
| It makes a great bong. | |||
| ==Description== | |||
| The word pumpkin originates from the word ''pepon'', which is Greek for “large melon". The ] adapted this word to ''pompon'', which the ] changed to ''pumpion'' and later American colonists changed that to the word we use today, “pumpkin". <ref>The Pumpkin Patch. 2007. Halloween Online. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://www.pumpkin-patch.com>.</ref> | |||
| The origin of pumpkins is not definitively known, although they are thought to have originated in ]. The oldest evidence, pumpkin-related seeds dating between 7000 and 5500 B.C., were found in ].<ref>The Pumpkin Patch. 2007. Halloween Online. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://www.pumpkin-patch.com>.</ref><ref>"Pumpkin." The Columbia Encyclopedia. 2004. Credo Reference. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://www.credoreference.com/entry/4294972>.</ref> | |||
| Pumpkins are a ]-like fruit that range in size from less than 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) to over 1,000 pounds (453.59 kilograms).<ref>Michael, Orsolek D., George L. Greaser, and Jayson K. Harper. "Pumpkin Production." Agricultural Alternatives (2000). Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://agalternatives.psu.edu/crops/pumpkin/pumpkin.pdf>.</ref> | |||
| Since some ] share the same botanical classifications as pumpkins, the names are frequently used interchangeably. In general, pumpkins have stems that are more rigid, pricklier, and squarer (with an approximate five-degree angle) than squash stems, which are generally softer, more rounded, and more flared where joined to the fruit.<ref name="Van_Sci_Enc"> cucurbitaceae. (1995). In ''Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia'' (8th ed.). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.</ref><ref name="Americana"> pumpkin. (1992). In ''The Encyclopedia Americana International Edition''. Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier Incorporated.</ref> | |||
| Pumpkins generally weigh 9–18 ] (4–8 ]) with the largest (of the species ''C. maxima'') capable of reaching a weight of over 75 lbs (34 kg).<ref name="Britannica"> pumpkin. (2007). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved November 28, 2007, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.search.eb.com/eb/article-9061895.</ref> The pumpkin varies greatly in shape, ranging from ] through oblong. The rind is smooth and usually lightly ribbed.<ref name="Britannica"/> | |||
| Although pumpkins are usually orange or yellow,<ref name="Americana"/> some fruits are dark green, pale green, orange-yellow, white, red and gray.<ref>Pumpkin Nook: .</ref> | |||
| Pumpkins are ], having both male and female flowers on the same plant. The female flower is distinguished by the small ovary at the base of the petals. These bright and colorful flowers have extremely short life spans and may only open for as short a time as one day. The color of pumpkins is derived from the orange pigments abundant in them. The main nutrients are lutein, and both alpha and beta carotene, the latter of which generates ] in the body.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} | |||
| ==Taxonomy== | |||
| '''Pumpkin''' is the fruit of the species '']'' or '' Cucurbita mixta ''. It can refer to a specific variety of the species '']'' or '']'', which are all of the genus '']'' and the family '']''.<ref name="itis"/> | |||
| ==Distribution and Habitation== | |||
| Pumpkins are grown all around the world for a variety of reasons ranging from ] purposes (such as animal feed) to commercial and ornamental sales.<ref>Wolford, Ron, and Drusilla Banks. ''Pumpkins and More''. 2008. University of Illinois Extension. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/pumpkins>.</ref> Out of the seven continents, only ] is unable to produce pumpkins; the biggest international producers of pumpkins include the ], ], ], and ]. <ref>'"The Pumpkin Patch'," 2007. ''Halloween Online''. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://www.pumpkin-patch.com>.</ref><ref>"Pumpkin Seeds." World's Healthiest Foods. 2008. The George Mateljan Foundation. 11 Feb. 2008 <http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=food&spicedbid=82#healthbenefits>.</ref> The traditional American pumpkin is the Connecticut Field variety.<ref>The Pumpkin Patch. 2007. Halloween Online. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://www.pumpkin-patch.com>.</ref> | |||
| Although native to the ], pumpkins are cultivated in ], continental ], ], ], ], and some other countries.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} The pumpkin is the state fruit of ]. | |||
| ==Ecology== | |||
| ===Cultivation in the US=== | |||
| {{Main|Pumpkin cultivation}} | |||
| As one of the most popular crops in the ], 1.5 billion pounds (680,388,555 kilograms) of pumpkins are produced each year.<ref>Michael, Orsolek D., George L. Greaser, and Jayson K. Harper. "Pumpkin Production." ''Agricultural Alternatives'' (2000). Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, 19 Feb. 2008 <http://agalternatives.psu.edu/crops/pumpkin/pumpkin.pdf>.</ref> The top pumpkin-producing states in the U.S. include ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>Wolford, Ron, and Drusilla Banks. Pumpkins and More. 2008. University of Illinois Extension. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/pumpkins>.</ref> | |||
| Pumpkins are a warm-weather crop that is usually planted in early July. The specific conditions necessary for growing pumpkins require that soil temperatures three inches (7.62 centimeters) deep are at least 60 degrees ] (15.5 degrees Celsius) and soil that holds water well. Pumpkin crops may suffer if there is a lack of water or because of cold temperatures (in this case, below 65 degrees (18.3 degrees Celsius); frost can be detrimental), and sandy soil or soil with poor water filtration. | |||
| Pumpkins are, however, rather hardy, and even if many leaves and portions of the vine are removed or damaged, the plant can very quickly re-grow secondary vines to replace what was removed.<ref>Michael, Orsolek D., George L. Greaser, and Jayson K. Harper. "Pumpkin Production." Agricultural Alternatives (2000). Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://agalternatives.psu.edu/crops/pumpkin/pumpkin.pdf>.</ref> | |||
| Pumpkins produce both a male and female flower; ] play a significant role in ]. <ref>Michael, Orsolek D., George L. Greaser, and Jayson K. Harper. "Pumpkin Production." ''Agricultural Alternatives'' (2000). Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, 19 Feb. 2008 <http://agalternatives.psu.edu/crops/pumpkin/pumpkin.pdf>. </ref> Pumpkins have historically been ] by the native ] ''Peponapis pruinosa'', but this bee has ], probably due to ] sensitivity, and today most commercial plantings are pollinated by ]s. One hive per acre (4,000 m² per hive) is recommended by the United States of America (US) Department of Agriculture. If there are inadequate bees for pollination, gardeners often have to ]. Inadequately pollinated pumpkins usually start growing but abort before full development. An opportunistic ] is also sometimes blamed for abortions. | |||
| ===Giant Pumpkins=== | |||
| The largest pumpkins are ''Cucurbita maxima''. They were cultivated from the hubbard squash genotype, crossed with kabocha-pumpkin types by enthusiast farmers through intermittent effort since the early 1800s. As such germplasm is commercially provocative, a U.S. legal right was granted for the rounder phenotypes, levying them as constituting a variety, with the appellation ]. Eventually this phenotype graduated back into the public domain, except now it had the name Atlantic Giant on its record (see USDA PVP # 8500204). | |||
| Weigh-off competitions for giant pumpkins are a popular festival activity. 460 pounds (208.65 kilograms) held the world record for the largest pumpkin until 1981 when ] (of ]) broke the record with a pumpkin near 500 pounds (226.80 kilograms). Dill patented the seeds used to grow this giant pumpkin, deeming them Dill’s Atlantic Giant seeds, and drawing growers from around the world. Dill is accredited for all of the giant pumpkins today, most of which are borne from crossing and re-crossing his patented seed with other varieties.<ref>Raver, Anne. "In the Pumpkin Patch, an Orange Thumb." ''New York Times'', 18 Oct. 2007, p. F6.</ref> By 1994, the Giant Pumpkin crossed the 1,000-pound (453.59-kilogram) mark. In September 2007, Joe Jutras (of ]) obtained the title of world’s largest pumpkin with a cream-colored, 1,689-pound (766.12-kilogram) fruit.<ref name="worldrecord"></ref> He is currently said to be working on producing a giant orange pumpkin, as orange pumpkins tend to be smaller and have thinner shells but are more desirable in appearance.<ref>Raver, Anne. "In the Pumpkin Patch, an Orange Thumb." New York Times 18 Oct. 2007, sec. F: 6. </ref> | |||
| ==Uses== | |||
| ===Cooking=== | |||
| {{nutritionalvalue | name=Pumpkin, raw| kJ=56| protein=1.0 g | fat=0.1 g | satfat=0.05 g | monofat=0.01 g | polyfat=0.01 g | carbs=6.5 g | fiber=0.5 g | | sugars=1.36 g | sodium_mg=1 | iron_mg=0.8 | calcium_mg=21 | magnesium_mg=12 | phosphorus_mg=44 | potassium_mg=340 | zinc_mg=0.32 | vitA_ug= 369| betacarotene_ug=3100 |vitC_mg=9 | vitE_mg=1.06 | vitK_mcg=1.1 | pantothenic_mg=0.298 | vitB6_mg=0.061 | folate_ug=16 | thiamin_mg=0.05 | riboflavin_mg=0.110 | niacin_mg=0.6 | right=1 | source_usda=1 }} | |||
| Pumpkins are very versatile in their uses for cooking, from the fleshy shell, to the seeds, to even the flowers; most parts of the pumpkin are edible. Traditionally, pumpkin is a very popular ] and ] staple. Although most people use store-bought canned pumpkin, homemade pumpkin purée can serve the same purpose.<ref>Roberts, Tammy. "The Many Uses of Pumpkin." ''Food & Fitness'', 7 Aug. 2006. 10 Feb. 2008 <http://www.missourifamilies.org/features/nutritionarticles/nut107.htm>.</ref> | |||
| ]When ripe, the pumpkin can be boiled, baked, steamed, or roasted. In its native North America, it is a very important, traditional part of the autumn harvest, making its way into soups and purees; in Mexico and the U.S., the seeds are often roasted and eaten as a snack. Often, it is made into ], various kinds of which are a traditional staple of the Canadian and American Thanksgiving holiday. | |||
| Pumpkins that are still small and green may be eaten in the same way as ] or ]. Pumpkins can also be mashed (similar to mashed potatoes) or incorporated into soup. In the ], pumpkin is used for sweet dishes; a well-known sweet delicacy is called ''halawa yaqtin''. In South Asian countries such as ], pumpkin is cooked with butter, sugar, and spices in a dish called ''kadu ka halwa''. In ] province, ], the leaves of the pumpkin plant are consumed as a cooked vegetable or in soups. In ], pumpkin is often roasted in conjunction with other vegetables. In ], small pumpkins are served in savory dishes, including ]. In ], small pumpkins are steamed with custard inside and served as a ]. In Italy it can be used with cheeses as a savory stuffing for ]. Also, pumpkin can be used to flavor both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. | |||
| ===Pumpkin extract=== | |||
| ] research on ] ], published in July 2007, suggests that ] found in pumpkin promote regeneration of damaged ] cells, resulting in increased bloodstream ] levels. According to the research team leader, pumpkin extract may be "a very good product for pre-diabetic people, as well as those who already have diabetes," possibly reducing or eliminating the need for insulin injections for some type-1 diabetics. It is unknown whether pumpkin extract has any effect on ], as it was not the subject of the study.<ref name="Telegraph 2007">{{Cite news|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1556891/Pumpkin-may-cut-injections-for-diabetes.html |title=Pumpkin May Cut Injections for Diabetes|work=]|author=<!--Staff writer; no by-line.-->|publisher=]|location=]|date=9 July 2007|accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref> | |||
| ===Pumpkin seeds=== | |||
| {{Main|Pepita}} | |||
| Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, are small, flat, green, edible seeds. Most pumpkin seeds are covered by a white husk, although some pumpkin varieties produce seeds without them. Pumpkin seeds are a popular snack that can be found hulled or semi-hulled at most grocery stores. However, roasting pumpkin seeds (usually scooped out of ]s) is a popular ] treat. Pumpkin seeds have many health benefits, some of which include a good source of ], ], and other ], and are even said to lower ].<ref>"Pumpkin Seeds." ''World's Healthiest Foods'', 2008. The George Mateljan Foundation. 11 Feb. 2008 <http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=food&spicedbid=82#healthbenefits>.</ref> One gram of pumpkin seed protein contains as much ] as a full glass of milk.<ref>""</ref> Pumpkin seeds are a good source of ], ], ], and ].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} | |||
| ====Pumpkin-seed oil==== | |||
| ''']''' is a thick, green-red<ref>Kreft S and Kreft M (2007) Physicochemical and physiological basis of dichromatic colour, Naturwissenschaften 94, 935-939. </ref><ref>Kaernbach C., Dörre C. (2006). On the color of transparent substances, in Current Psychological Research in Austria. Proceedings of the 7th scientific conference of the Austrian Psychological Society (ÖGP), Ed. B. Gula & O. Vitouch (Klagenfurt), </ref> oil that is produced from roasted pumpkin seeds. When used for cooking or as a salad dressing, pumpkin-seed oil is generally mixed with other oils because of its robust flavor.<ref>Tyler Herbst, Sharon. ''The New Food Lover's Companion'', 3rd ed. Barron, 2001. Pumpkin-Seed Oil. 14 Feb. 2008 <http://www.credoreference.coom/entry/5068383>.</ref> It is used in cooking in central and eastern ]. It is considered a delicacy in Austria where a little is often added in traditional local cuisine on pumpkin soup and on potato salad. In some restaurants in Vienna they propose even to add a few drops on vanilla ice-cream. Long-believed to be a folk remedy for ] problems, it has been claimed to combat ].<ref name="whfoods"></ref> Pumpkin seed oil contains fatty acids which help maintain healthy blood vessels and nerves, and are loaded with essential fatty acids that help to maintain healthy blood vessels, nerves and tissues.<ref name="Levin">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefoodpaper.com/features/health/pumpkins.html |title=The Power of Pumpkin in All Its Parts |accessdate=2008-10-14 |last=Levin |first=Rachel |date=2008-09-17 |work=feature article |publisher=The Food Paper}}</ref> | |||
| === Other uses === | |||
| Canned pumpkin is often recommended by veterinarians as a dietary supplement for dogs and cats that are experiencing digestive problems. The high fiber content helps to aid proper digestion.<ref></ref> | |||
| ==Activities involving pumpkins== | |||
| ===Halloween=== | |||
| ] for ].]] | |||
| Pumpkins are commonly carved into decorative lanterns called ]s for the ] season in North America. Throughout Britain and Ireland, there is a long tradition of carving lanterns from vegetables, particularly the ], ], or ].<ref>They continue to be popular choices today as carved lanterns in Scotland and Northern Ireland, although the British purchased a million pumpkins for Halloween in 2004. "", ''BBC'', 31 October 2005. Retrieved on 19 October 2006. "", ''BBC'', 28 October 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2007.</ref> Not until 1837, however, does ''jack-o'-lantern'' appear as a term for a carved vegetable lantern,<ref>], "The Great Carbuncle," in '']'', 1837: | |||
| :Hide it under thy cloak, say'st thou? Why, it will gleam through the holes, and make thee look like a jack-o'-lantern!</ref> and the carved lantern does not become associated specifically with Halloween until 1866.<ref>''Daily News'' (Kingston, Ontario), November 1, 1866: | |||
| :The old time custom of keeping up Hallowe'en was not forgotten last night by the youngsters of the city. They had their maskings and their merry-makings, and perambulated the streets after dark in a way was no doubt amusing to themselves. There was a great sacrifice of pumpkins from which to make transparent heads and face, lighted up by the unfailing two inches of tallow candle. | |||
| Agnes Carr Sage, "Halloween Sports and Customs," ''Harper's Young People'', October 27, 1885, p. 828: | |||
| :It is an ancient Scottish custom to light great bonfires on Halloween and carry blazing fagots about on long poles; but in place of this, American boys delight in the funny grinning jack-o'-lanterns made of huge yellow pumpkins with a candle inside.</ref> Significantly, both occurred not in Britain or Ireland—but in North America. Historian David J. Skal writes, | |||
| :Although every modern chronicle of the holiday repeats the claim that vegetable lanterns were a time-honored component of Halloween celebrations in the British Isles, none gives any ]. In fact, none of the major nineteenth-century chronicles of British holidays and folk customs make any mention whatsoever of carved lanterns in connection with Halloween. Neither do any of the standard works of the early twentieth century.<ref>{{cite book | |||
| | first = David J. | |||
| | last = Skal | |||
| | title = Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween | |||
| | location = New York | |||
| | publisher = Bloomsbury | |||
| | year = 2002 | |||
| | pages = 32 | |||
| | id = ISBN 1-58234-230-X | |||
| }} The earliest reference to associate carved vegetable lanterns with Halloween in Britain is Ruth Edna Kelley, '''' (1919), Chapter 8, which mentions turnip lanterns in Scotland.</ref> | |||
| In the United States, the carved pumpkin was first associated with the harvest season in general, long before it became an emblem of Halloween.<ref>As late as 1900, an article on Thanksgiving entertaining recommended a lit jack-o'-lantern as part of the festivities that encourage kids and families to join together to make their own jack-o-lanterns. "," ''The New York Times'', Nov. 24, 1895, p. 27. "," ''The New York Times'', Oct. 21, 1900, p. 12.</ref> | |||
| ===Chucking=== | |||
| ] is a competitive activity in which teams build various mechanical devices designed to throw a pumpkin as far as possible. ]s, ]s, ]s and ]s are the most common mechanisms. Some pumpkin chuckers breed and grow special varieties of pumpkin under specialized conditions in order to improve the pumpkin's chances of surviving a throw. | |||
| ===Pumpkin festivals and competitions=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Pumpkin growers often compete to see whose pumpkins are the most massive. Festivals are often dedicated to the pumpkin and these competitions. | |||
| The town of ], holds a big festival each year, the ]. The town of ], holds an annual Pumpkin and Arts Festival, drawing over 250,000 visitors each year and including the World Champion Pumpkin Weigh-Off.<ref>History of Half-Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival</ref> Farmers from all over the west compete to determine who can grow the greatest gourd.<ref>Gargantuan Gourd Weigh-Off</ref> The winning pumpkin regularly tops the scale at more than 1200 pounds. The world record pumpkin in 2007 was 1689 pounds, grown by Joe Jutras in Topsfield, Massachusetts.<ref name="worldrecord" /> | |||
| The town of ], the self-declared pumpkin capital of the world,<ref name="morton"></ref> has held a Pumpkin Festival since 1966. The town, where ]'s pumpkin packing plant is located (and where 90% of canned pumpkins eaten in the US are processed) carved and lit pumpkins in one place: a record that the town held for several years before losing it to ], in 2006. A large contributor of pumpkins to the Keene ] in New Hampshire is local ], which hosts an event called Pumpkin ] on its main quad. Usually held the day before the festival itself, Pumpkin Lobotomy has the air of a large party, with the school providing pumpkins and carving instruments alike (though some students prefer to use their own) and music provided by college radio station WKNH. | |||
| ==Folklore and fiction== | |||
| There seems to be a strong connection in folklore and popular culture between pumpkins and the supernatural. Famous examples include the following: | |||
| ===Folklore=== | |||
| *A commonplace motif of people being turned into pumpkins by witches. | |||
| *The Jack-o-lantern custom discussed above, which connects to Halloween lore about warding off demons. | |||
| ===Fiction=== | |||
| *The ] story of '']'', in which the fairy godmother turns a pumpkin into a carriage, but it later reverts to a pumpkin. | |||
| *Linus' belief in the ] in ]'s comic strip '']''. | |||
| *The short story "]" by ], in which juice from a pumpkin has magical effects. | |||
| *The '']'' novels, in which pumpkin juice as a favorite drink of the students of Hogwart's School of Wizards and Witches is a recurring element. | |||
| *The jack-o-lantern hurled by the "]" in ]'s '']''. | |||
| *], a character in the ] books of ], with (obviously) a pumpkin for a head on a wooden body, brought to life in the second book. | |||
| *in ]'s ''],'' the main character, ] is "the Pumpkin King." | |||
| *], the fictional detective from ] in '']'' series of novels by Scottish author ], often cooks and eats pumpkin. | |||
| *"Katie" The fictional and Main Character from the Level One Book "The Pumpkin Patch". Katie's class goes to a Pumpkin Patch to get Pumpkins. Katie dreams of finding "The Perfect Pumpkin", But the Pumpkin she chooses is not "Tall, Big, or Perfect" It's too small. Her friends tease her about the small Pumpkin. But her dad tells her that It is a "Good Pumpkin" and they bake it into a ]. Then Katie brings the Pie to school and everybody calls it "Perfect". | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| {{Commons category|Pumpkin}} | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==Gallery== | |||
| <gallery> | |||
| Image:Pumpkin with stalk.jpg|Pumpkin attached to a stalk | |||
| Image:Giant_Pumpkin_Species.jpg|Common "Giant" Pumpkin variety | |||
| Image:FemalePumpkinFlower_closed_small.jpg|Immature Female Pumpkin Flower | |||
| Image:Garden_jul2006_small.JPG|Male Pumpkin Flower (Open) | |||
| Image:painted pumpkins.jpg|Painted mini pumpkins on display in ], ] | |||
| Image:Keene pumpkin festival 1.jpg|A few of the tens of thousands of pumpkins on display at the 2000 Keene ] | |||
| Image:Pumpkin stem.jpg|A pumpkin stem. | |||
| Image:Pumpkins Field.jpg|Pumpkins growing in a field | |||
| Image:NKN-2007-09-01 125930 Pumpkins field (Yvan Leduc author for Misplaced Pages).jpg|Pumpkin Field. | |||
| Image:Pumpkin2600ppx.jpg|Pumpkin - up close. | |||
| Image:Pumpkin2500ppx.jpg|Pumpkin rind | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ;Notes | |||
| {{refbegin}} | |||
| * , The George Mateljan Foundation. | |||
| * , Illinois Department of Agriculture. | |||
| * , bigpumpkins.com. | |||
| * , list of world records. | |||
| {{refend}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * - Pics of 150 varieties from The Great Pumpkin Patch, Arthur, IL | |||
| * - backyardgardener.com, site focused on North-Eastern U.S. | |||
| * describes several varieties available in Australia. | |||
| * - American pumpkin varieties, arranged by species. | |||
| * - Recipe suggestions for pumpkins. | |||
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Revision as of 08:42, 30 September 2009
For other uses, see Pumpkin (disambiguation). | This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (September 2009) |
Pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae (which also includes gourds). It is a common name of or can refer to cultivars of any one of the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata.
It makes a great bong.