Ecology 104

Ecology 104 is about the great pumpkin...

The pumpkins are a squash-like fruit. They are orange or yellow and have many ridges running from the stem to the bottom. They have a thick, smooth shell on the outside, with seeds and pulp on the inside. They can range in size from 1 pound all the way up to 1000 pounds. They typically weigh 9 to 18 pounds. The main nutrients are lutein, and both alpha and beta carotene, the latter of which generates vitamin A in the body.

Pumpkins are grown all over the world except Antarctica, but not because they don't celebrate Halloween down there... Pumpkins are used for a variety of different reasons. They can be served as animal feed to commercial outfits or just seasonal ornamental sales. The pumpkin is the state fruit of New Hampshire...that figures...

The U.S. produces 1.5 billions pounds each year. Pumpkins are a warm-weather crop that is planted in early July. To make a pumpkin grow, the temperature needs to be above 60 degrees and in a soil that holds water. Pumpkins can grow back if some plant is removed or damaged...this is called regeneration.

Pumpkins can be used for cooking. From the shell, to the seeds, to the flower, it's nearly all edible. The pumpkin is popular around Halloween and is a Thanksgiving staple. When ripe, the pumpkin can be boiled, baked, steamed, or roasted. In it's native North America, it was a part of the autumn harvest. It would make its way into soups and purees. In Mexico and the U.S., the seeds are roasted and eaten as a snack. It is made into a pie which can make an appearance at Thanksgiving.

During, Halloween, pumpkins are usually carved into a decorative lanterns called jack-o’-lanterns. Britain and Ireland used to carve lanterns out of turnips. In 1837, jack-o’-lanterns was used as a term for a carved vegetable lantern, for the first time in history. In 1866, the carved lantern became associated with Halloween.

Pumpkin chucking is a competitive activity where a team has to find various mechanical devices designed to throw a pumpkin as far as it can. Pumpkin chucking competitions occur in the fall when pumpkins are harvested. The most common devices found at a pumpkin chucking are catapults, trebuchets, ballistas and air cannons.

Pumpkins have made guest appearance in books and films. The Great Pumpkin by Charles M. Schulz. Linus believes the Great Pumpkin, which is like Santa Claus, will come visit the pumpkin patch on Halloween. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, the headless horseman throws a jack-o’-lantern. In the second Oz by L. Frank Baum, a character is named Jack Pumpkinhead. He has a pumpkin for a head and a wooden body. In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack Skellington declares himself as the “pumpkin king.”

Pumpkins are definitely relevant...

Enjoy the day...