Pumpkins

Pumpkins are known as a wonder vegetable. It comes from the same family as the squash and gourd they are large and orange both on the inside and outside. They have a hard skin and contain lots of large seeds inside. (these can be dried and planted to grow your own). The seeds are planted in the spring and harvested in the autumn if the skin does not have any bruises or blemishes they can be kept in the cool for up to 6 months. The word pumpkin comes from the Greek word Pepon meaning large melon. The English termed it Pumpion or Pompion back in 1547. Pumpkins was one of the many foods used by the Native American Indians both as food and to weave ...

It is that time of year again when I go to my veggie patch and select a couple of voluptuous pumpkins to make Halloween lanterns and soup. Well actually I am telling a small fib because this year they are more like large oranges than giant footballs. I blame global warming, but if there is one thing that pumpkins like while they are growing it is regular water, and lots of it. My water butts were empty for part of the summer so everything suffered slightly this year. Never mind, they will probably taste slightly better than the big ones. So let’s start at the beginning. I started growing pumpkins several years ago when my children were small and they ...

It breaks my heart, it really does. It happens every year in spite of the warnings. Pestered parents succumb to their children’s demands and for one day it becomes the sole focus of the family’s attention. But the very next day it’s out on it’s ear, left to fend for itself…. Is this what happens in your home? Shame on you! Surely you know that a pumpkin isn’t just for Halloween! Looking around at this time of year, however, one might think that pumpkins existed only to be carved up at Halloween. Speaking as someone who lists the pumpkin as her number one vegetable (though it is strictly speaking a fruit), I find this not only annoying but also ...