PUMPKIN FACTS

1.  Pumpkin seeds can be roasted as a snack.

2.  Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.

3.  Pumpkins are used for feed for animals.

4.  Pumpkin flowers are edible.

5.  Pumpkins are used to make soups, pies and breads.

6.  The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter and weighed over 2,030 pounds.

7. Pumpkins are members of the Gourd family  (cucumbers and squash and melons are members too)

8.  Pumpkins originated in Central America.

9.  In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of  pies, not the filling.

10.  Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.

11. Pumpkins range in size from less than a pound to over 1,000 pounds.

12. The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.

13. The name pumpkin originated from "pepon" – the Greek word for "large  melon."

14. The Connecticut field variety is the traditional American pumpkin.

15. Pumpkins are 90 percent water.

16. Pumpkins are fruit.

17. Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in  October.

18. In colonial times, Native Americans roasted long strips of pumpkin in an  open fire.

19. Colonists sliced off pumpkin tips; removed seeds and filled the insides with  milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of  pumpkin pie.

20. Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.

21. Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm squash."

22. Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.

23.There was probably some kind of pumpkin served at the first Thanksgiving Feast. 

24. Pumpkins and other forms of squash made up one part of the  maize, beans, and squash -- that once formed the basic diet of American Indians.

25. One of the largest pumpkin pie ever made  used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake.

26. Early settlers made pumpkin pie by filling a hollowed out shell with milk, honey and spices, then baking it.

27. A sizable number of movies were made with pumpkin and Halloween themes.  Most memorable perhaps is the pumpkin chariot in Cinderella

28. The self proclaimed "Pumpkin Capital of the World" is Morton, Illinois where Libby has it's pumpkin industry and plant.

29. About four months after planting pumpkin seeds, they're ready to harvest.

30. Americans spend over $1 Billion each year at Halloween.

31. Not only are pumpkins used as food but they are used by millions of families as decorations inside and outside of their houses.

32. Pumpkins are orange.......... everybody knows that. But they come in lots of other colors too. You can find pumpkins that are green, yellow, red, white, blue, even tan (http://www.pumpkinnook.com/facts/colors.htm)

33. For a successful crop of pumpkins, seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 3-4 months to grow.

34..    Look for a pumpkin with 1 to 2 inches of stem left. If the stem is cut down too low the pumpkin will decay quickly.

35. Pumpkins also contain a high level of fiber content and are recommended for people and also pets with digestion problems

36. Pumpkin juice is talked about as the students’ favorite drink in popular novel series, Harry Potter.

PUMPKIN CARVING TIPS

1. After carving pumpkin, coat inside and all cut holes with petroleum jelly (slows shriveling/drying out process).

2. Use battery light or glow stick instead of candles to increase life (candles are much hotter).

3. Sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on underside of lid when using candles (smells like pumpkin pie).

PUMPKIN HUMOR

Q: How do you fix a broken pumpkin?

A: Use a "Pumpkin Patch"

Anatony of a Pumpkin - what are the parts of a pumpkin?