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Pumpkin

✨ The Giant of the Garden

The pumpkin is the fruit of several plants in the Cucurbita genus, which belongs to the squash family, Cucurbitaceae. In everyday language, the word often refers to large, round winter squashes, especially orange varieties such as Cucurbita pepo or Cucurbita maxima. Botanically, a pumpkin is a fruit because it develops from a flower and contains seeds, although it is commonly used as a vegetable in cooking.

Pumpkin plants are annual vines with large leaves, separate male and female flowers, and stems that can spread across the ground or climb when supported. The fruits vary greatly in size, shape and color depending on the species and variety. They generally need warm temperatures, sunlight and fertile, well-drained soil to grow successfully. Pumpkin flesh is usually cooked and can be used in soups, purées, stews, sauces, pies and other dishes.

It has a mild flavor and contains a large amount of water, as well as dietary fiber, potassium and carotenoids. Orange-fleshed varieties are often rich in beta-carotene, a pigment that the body can convert into vitamin A. The seeds are also edible and provide protein, unsaturated fats, minerals and other nutrients; they can be roasted after being cleaned and dried.

Pumpkin is harvested when the fruit has reached the appropriate maturity, often indicated by a hardened skin and changes in color, depending on the variety. Some mature pumpkins can be stored for several months in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place. The fruit, seeds and flowers can all be used as food, although culinary practices vary by culture and variety.

💡 Did you know?

Did you know that there are world giant pumpkin contests? Some passionate farmers manage to grow pumpkins that weigh as much as a small car! The world record even exceeds 1,200 kilos. A crane is sometimes needed to lift and transport them to autumn fairs.

Why are pumpkins carved at Halloween? This tradition comes from an old Irish legend about a man named 'Jack'. Originally, turnips or beets were carved, but when the Irish arrived in America, they discovered pumpkins. They were larger and easier to carve, so they became the famous 'Jack-o'-Lanterns'!

Technically, the pumpkin is a fruit, not a vegetable! For botanists (scientists who study plants), everything that contains seeds and comes from a flower is a fruit. Since the pumpkin is full of seeds inside, it is part of the same family as watermelons and melons. But because it is often eaten salted, it is called a vegetable in cooking.