Pumpkin Pictures
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Around Halloween, most people think pumpkin when they think squash family, Cucurbitaceae.
A native New World vegetable family, Cucurbitaceae species now grow around the world.
Pumpkins are big business. According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service, in 2008, New York led the United States with over $38 million dollars with of pumpkins grown. Ohio, Illinois and California came in next with approximately $22 million dollars worth of pumpkins grown, followed closely by Pennsylvania with $20 million dollars worth of pumpkin production.
Accordingly, the big business of pumpkins often translates into big pumpkins. Please tap or click the green tabs on either the left or right side of the box to view additional pumpkin pictures.
Any pumpkin over one thousand pounds can be considered a record setter. Currently a Rhode Island gardener holds the record for largest pumpkin grown. In 2007, his pumpkin, an Atlantic Giant variety, weighed in at 1,689 pounds.
Anyone who tosses a few pumpkin seeds along a patch of moist ground in late spring soon recognizes the relative ease of growing pumpkins. Growing a smaller pumpkin patch can be almost that easy
Pumpkins generally prefer summer season or warm weather growing environments. Other than that, they adapt to a variety of soil and sun conditions.
As long as pumpkins have space to grow with adequate food and water (their shallow roots need at least a weekly watering) a pumpkin will grow, although it might not grow into a one thousand pound pumpkin.
Pumpkins do need elbow room to grow and most experts recommend spacing plants eight to ten feet apart if you plan on growing a patch of pumpkins.
From start to finish, a mature pumpkin requires about fourth months of total vegetation and fruiting time. June plantings means that by the end of September and the beginning of October, they are ready for harvest.
Stored in a cool dry place with good ventilation, pumpkins can last through the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays.
The links in the box on the right celebrate the holidays with a variety of pumpkin and Halloween related articles and pictures. including some additional growing and recipe tips.
Those interested in the Halloween theme might also enjoy the Halloween offerings from the folks behind Kids' Turn Central and Internet Family Fun.
© 2003-2011 Patricia A. Michaels