Pumpkin Pandemonium! | Youth Services Blog

Fall is in the air and it definitely ’tis the season for all things pumpkin!

pumpkins

Whether you are decorating for fall, preparing for Halloween, or just noticing pumpkins wherever you go, you might like to brush up on your knowledge of these orange globes which are invading the area. Here are a few interesting tidbits to share with others:

Morton, Illinois (near Peoria) is the pumpkin capital of the world (self-proclaimed, that is). Illinois is one of the largest pumpkin producers in the U.S.
Pumpkins are 90% water. They are members of the cucurbit plant family which includes gourds, melons, cucumbers, and squash.
Pumpkins are a surprisingly healthy food, full of vitamins and low in fat and calories – until they become sweet treats topped off with whipped cream or cream cheese frosting!
An estimated 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced each year. The top pumpkin producing states are Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.
The tradition of carving Jack-o-lanterns originated in Ireland hundreds of years ago to ward off evil spirits….however, turnips and potatoes were originally used. When Irish immigrants came to America, they started using pumpkins.
Save your seeds to plant next year’s crop. Remember to plant them near the end of May or early June so they’ll be ready for harvest in 90 to 120 days.

Learn more about pumpkins at these websites or stop in to browse the card catalog for our books:

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