Plantable Planet...a world of hope!!!
  • Home
    • Home1 >
      • ...a little about us...
      • How to Plant
  • Fundraiser
  • Prizes
  • Schools
    • Projects >
      • Science Fair Projects
  • Sponsors
  • Help Others
  • Forms
  • Contact us
  • 3-in-1 Solar Robot
  • 6-in-1 Solar Kit
  • Salt Water Car
  • 4M Weather Station
  • 4M Enviro Battery
  • 4M Clean Water Science
  • ...Phong's personal story
  • school redeemable materials
  • testimonies
  • 8 different seeds
  • Corn
    • Corn- Nutrition Facts
  • Green Bean
    • Green Bean- Nutrition Facts
    • Green Bean- Germination
  • Sunflower
    • Sunflower- Nutrition Facts
    • Sunflower- Germination
  • Heirloom Tomatoes
    • Heirloom Tomatoes- Nutrition Facts
    • Heirloom Tomatoes- Germination
  • Pumpkin
    • Pumpkin- Nutrition Facts
    • Pumpkin- Germination
  • Watermelon
    • Watermelon- Nutrition Facts
    • Watermelon- Germination
    • Watermelon- How to Pick Fresh Watermelon
  • Hot Pepper
    • Hot Pepper- Nutrition Facts
    • Hot Pepper- Germination
  • Earth
  • Recycled paper pencils
  • Recycled paper pens
  • Zenin- How to Pick Fresh Watermelon
  • Buy Now
  • Fun videos
  • samples of painted globes
  • Eco-friendly materials
  • Organic vs. GMO

Pumpkin:  Cucurbita moschata

Picture
A
Germinates:  7-14 days                        Harvest:  110 days                          Grown in: Full Sun

Nutrition Facts:            Germination:

A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash and is native to North America. They typically have a thick, orange or yellow shell, creased from the stem to the bottom, containing the seeds and pulp. Pumpkins are widely grown for commercial use, and are used both in food and recreation. Pumpkin pie, for instance, is a traditional part of Thanksgiving meals in the United States, and pumpkins are frequently carved as decorations around Halloween. A pumpkin that has a little face carved in it and hollowed out and decorated with candles inside is known as a jack o'lantern.

The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon (πέπων), which is Greek for “large melon". The French adapted this word to pompon, which the British changed to pumpion and later American colonists changed that to the word we use today, "pumpkin". The origin of pumpkins is not definitively known, although they are thought to have originated in North America. The oldest evidence, pumpkin-related seeds dating between 7000 and 5500 BC, were found in Mexico. Pumpkins are a squash-like fruit that range in size from less than 1 pound to over 1,000 pounds.

Since some squash share the same botanical classifications as pumpkins, the names are frequently used interchangeably. In general, pumpkin stems are more rigid, prickly, and angular (with an approximate five-degree angle) than squash stems, which are generally softer, more rounded, and more flared where joined to the fruit

Pumpkins generally weigh 9–18 lbs with the largest (of the species C. maxima) capable of reaching a weight of over 75 lbs. The pumpkin varies greatly in shape, ranging from oblate to oblong. The rind is smooth and usually lightly ribbed. Although pumpkins are usually orange or yellow, some fruits are dark green, pale green, orange-yellow, white, red and gray. 
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 vitamin A in the body.

Pumpkins are monoecious, 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.  Honeybees play a significant role in fertilization. Pumpkins have historically been pollinated by the native squash bee Peponapis pruinosa, but this bee has declined, probably due to pesticide sensitivity, and today most commercial plantings are pollinated by honeybees. One hive per acre (4,000 m² per hive) is recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If there are inadequate bees for pollination, gardeners often have to hand pollinate. Inadequately pollinated pumpkins usually start growing but abort before full development. An opportunistic fungus is also sometimes blamed for abortions.

As one of the most popular crops in the United States, 1.5 billion pounds (680,000,000 kilograms) of pumpkins are produced each year. The top pumpkin-producing states include Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.  According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, 95% of the U.S. crop intended for processing is grown in Illinois. Nestlé, operating under the brand name Libby's, produces 85% of the processed pumpkin in the United States. In the fall of 2009, rain in Illinois devastated the Nestlé crop, resulting in a shortage affecting the entire country during the Thanksgiving holiday season.

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 (7.6 cm) deep are at least 60 °F (15.5 °C) 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 °F (18.3 °C); frost can be detrimental), and sandy soil with poor water retention or poorly drained soils that become waterlogged after heavy rain. 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.




Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.