Pumpkin is one of the most popular vegetables in the world. Its popularity is taken to a different high come Halloween season. But there’s more to pumpkin than pumpkin lantern, pumpkin pie, or pumpkin soup. This astoundingly famous crop in the United States is pretty interesting. It comes in various shapes and sizes. Let us dig deeper into pumpkin varieties.
Pumpkins may grow from a small 2-pounder to a humongous 1000-pounder. Those who grow pumpkin for ornamental reasons are expectedly focused on the size. As the world record for pumpkin dimensions can be constantly contested, growers seek to steal the title with every pumpkin they tend to. As of late, the world record for the biggest pumpkin tipped the scale at 1,725 pounds. It was weighed in Ohio during the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers GPC. The record was made on October 3, 2009 and is owned by Christy Harp.
Anyway, pumpkin dimensions vary according to types. The small variety grows from 2-5 pounds. They take about 100 to 110 days before they are ready for harvest. The pumpkins of this kind include Baby Bear, Baby Pam, Spooktacular, Small Sugar, Sugar Treat, and Winter Luxury.
The medium pumpkin variety grows from 8-15 pounds. They take about 100 to 110 days before they are ripe for harvest. The pumpkins of this kind include the ever popular Jack-o-Lantern as well as Autumn Moon, Bushkin, Funny Face, Frosty, Harvest Moon, Cheese Pumpkin, Spirit, and Young’s Beauty.
The large pumpkin variety grows from 15-25 pounds. They also take about 100 to 110 days before they are ready for harvest. The pumpkins of this kind include the Jack, Big Autumn, Big Tom, Aspen, Ghost Rider, Happy Jack, Jackpot, Howden Field, Connecticut Field, and Pankow’s Field.
The giant pumpkin variety, where those that reign at weigh offs came, grows from 50 to 100 pounds or much, much more. They take over 120 days before they are ready for harvest. The pumpkins of this kind are Atlantic Giant, Mammoth Gold, Prizewinner, Big Moon, and Big Max.
Pumpkins have a variety of uses. First and foremost, they make for an excellent ingredient in cooking. The shell, the seeds, and even the flowers are edible and can help create delectable dishes. Traditionally, pumpkin recipes pop up during Halloween and Thanksgiving feasts.
Believe it or not, pumpkins are also used for medical purposes. Research showed that pumpkin extract may be helpful for pre-diabetic patients as well as those who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Pumpkins are also used as dietary supplements for both cats and dogs.