Information AboutPumpkin |
|
A pumpkin is a squash Fruit , most commonly orange in colour when ripe, that grows as a Fruit (gourd from a trailing vine of the genus '' Cucurbita '' ( Cucurbitaceae ). Cultivated in North America , continental Europe , and some other countries, as well as in English Cottage Garden s, '' Cucurbita '' varieties include ''Curcurbita pepo'', ''Cucurbita maxima'', ''Cucurbita mixta'', or ''Cucurbita moschata'' — all plants native to the Western Hemisphere . The pumpkin varies greatly in form, being sometimes nearly globular, but more generally Oblong or Ovoid in shape. The rind is smooth and very variable in colour. The larger kinds acquire a weight of 40 to 80 Lb (18 to 36 Kg ) but smaller varieties are in vogue for garden culture. Pumpkins are a popular Food , with their innards commonly eaten Cooked and served in dishes such as Pumpkin Pie . Pumpkins are traditionally used to carve Jack-o'-lantern s for use as part of Halloween celebrations. Cooking When ripe, the pumpkin can be boiled, baked and roasted, or made into various kinds of Pie , alone or mixed with other fruit; while small and green it may be eaten in the same way as the vegetable marrow. Chunking Pumpkin Chunking is a competitive activity in which teams build various mechanical devices designed to throw a pumpkin as far as possible. Catapult s, Trebuchet s, Ballista s and Air Cannon s are the most common mechanisms. Some pumpkin chunkers grow special varieties of pumpkin, which are bred and grown under special conditions intended to improve the pumpkin's chances of surviving being thrown. Pumpkin seeds The hulless or semi-hulless seeds of pumpkins are eaten as a snack, similar to the sunflower seed. They are a good source of Essential Fatty Acid s, Potassium , and Magnesium . In Latin America these are often greenish in color and known as pepitas. One of the typical pumpkin products of Austria is Pumpkin Seed Oil . Pumpkin trivia
See also References
External links
|