- Anamosa
is the "Pumpkin Capital of Iowa."
- In
2000, Joe Scherber's 1,009 pound beauty was not only Anamosa's
largest, it was the third largest ever recorded in the world.
- Pumpkin
seeds can be roasted as a snack.
- Pumpkins
contain potassium and Vitamin A.
- Pumpkins
are used as feed for animals.
- Pumpkin
flowers are edible.
- Pumpkins
are used to make soups, pies and breads.
- The
largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter
and weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin,
36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake.
- Pumpkins
are members of the vine crops family called cucurbits.
- Pumpkins
originated in Central America.
- In
early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient
for the crust of pies, not the filling.
- Pumpkins
were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake
bites.
- Pumpkins
range in size from less than a pound to over 1,000 pounds.
- The
largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.
- The
name pumpkin originated from "pepon" - the Greek
word for "large melon."
- The
Connecticut field variety is the traditional American pumpkin.
- Pumpkins
are 90 percent water.
- Pumpkins
are fruit.
- 80%
of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in
October.
- In
colonial times, Native Americans roasted long strips of pumpkin
in an open fire.
- 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.
- Native
Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made
mats.
- Native
Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm squash."
- Native
Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.
Sources:
Illinois Extension and www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html
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