Now that the calendar has officially signaled the beginning of autumn and has dipped over into October, pumpkins are popping up all over the place.
But did you know that there are lots of different types of pumpkins - from tiny to giant? While they may all look good sitting on the front porch with some flowers, not all of them are good eating.
So, whether you are like Charlie Brown waiting for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin, or just wanting to bake a made-from-scratch pumpkin pie, you'll want to know what to look for. That is, unless you are looking for canned pumpkin - I can't help you there.
Pumpkin, or at least pumpkin flavor, is more popular than ever these days thanks to the ubiquitous nature of a recently created flavor called pumpkin spice. From coffee, to cereal, to vodka and lip balm, the flavor is everywhere. The one thing most of these products have in common is they have never even seen a real pumpkin. It's all artificial.
So, if you are craving something made of real pumpkin, listen up.
First off, if you've heard that we are in the midst of a pumpkin shortage this year, let me put those fears to rest. Many of the large pumpkin-producing areas are reporting bumper crops this year.
However, companies that use large amounts of processed pumpkin likely had a hard time finding it earlier in the year due to last year's shortage. Supply should be back to normal now, so things flavored with real pumpkin, such as baked goods and beers, should be safe.
If you want to go to the store or farmers market and pick up the real deal, you may have more choices than you know how to deal with when it comes to pumpkin varieties. So here's a quick list of common pumpkins (and relatives) you may find at the market.
n The jack-o'-lantern is the standard pumpkin most everyone will identify with this time of year. These pumpkins are generally medium sized and are good for decorating and carving.
While they are OK for cooking, they don't have the best flavor or texture for many dishes. If your pumpkin pursuits are purely culinary, stick to another variety. If you want to use them for decoration then cook them (or eat the seeds) afterward, these are fine.
n The pie pumpkin is a small, round pumpkin that has a much creamier flesh and a much better flavor than the jack-o'-lantern varieties. Their small size means they aren't great for carving, though.
You can cut these pumpkins up and cook them, but it is easier to just cut them into halves and roast (or perhaps steam) to get the flesh ready for dishes. The smaller ones are the perfect size to roast whole with brown sugar, butter and cinnamon, use as a pumpkin soup bowl, or stuff and bake.
n Fairytale pumpkins are becoming more visible at farmers markets these days. These squat, almost flat pumpkins have a light-orange or tan rind color. Sometimes, you'll find them covered with warts (a common pumpkin genetic trait). The outer rind is hard to cut into, but the creamy flesh and small seed cavity mean they can be pretty tasty.
n The rouge vif d'Etampes is a red heirloom pumpkin from 1800s France. It has a color between orange and red. Most are medium sized, but they can grow large. They have a creamy, sweet texture that is good for many dishes.
n Giant pumpkins are those massive pumpkins you often see on TV and at festivals. While the size may be impressive, the flavor definitely isn't. The bigger the pumpkin, usually the grainier and less flavorful the flesh.
n There are lots of other squashes that aren't pumpkins that make great decor and taste wonderful. Delicata, with its small size and sweet flavor is one of my favorites. Acorn, hubbard, butternut, spaghetti and cushaw are all great squashes. In fact, cushaw, the odd white and green striped squash, probably makes a better pie than pumpkin does.
n Gourds: these are the strictly ornamental side of the family. Most gourds are either too hard or too flavorless to be good eating. They are prized for their interesting shapes and colors, but they typically won't win any culinary prizes.
There's a new trend developing for people to paint one of the pumpkins on their porch with teal paint for Halloween. The trend is less decorative and more practical, though.
Putting a teal pumpkin on your porch signifies that you offer treats other than candy (such as small toys, pencils, bracelets, coloring books, etc.) for children with food allergies. (Teal is a color used to signify food allergy awareness).
More and more kids are developing allergies, and offering something other than candy is a great way to let kids who can't risk eating unknown foods participate in trick-or-treat.
So think about finding some small items (at the dollar store, etc.) and painting your pumpkin teal.
n Harvest sweet potatoes.
n Harvest green tomatoes, late pumpkins and gourds before frost.
n Divide perennials.
n Remove old crop residue and seed cover crops.
n Harvest winter squash and store in cool, dry location.
John Porter is the WVU Extension Service agent for agriculture and natural resources in Kanawha County.
Follow him on Facebook, Twitter at @WVgardenguru and online at
wvgardenguru.com. Contact him at john.porter@mail.wvu.edu
or 304-720-9573.