Pumpkins

What do you get if you divide the circumference
of a pumpkin by its diameter?
Pumpkin pi.

The largest fruit of any plant in the world is the pumpkin, although they are sometimes small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. The big ones can grow over 1,000 lbs! Most of them, though, are of more modest size, pefect for jack 'o lanterns. Cooking pumpkins are rated in quality by the amount of fibre they have - good cooking pumpkins have almost no fibre, so as the flesh cooks, it melts into a smooth puree. If you're looking for pumpkin seeds to eat, choose a "hull-less" variety. These ones have seeds that are bare, as opposed to most pumpkins that have seeds with papery jackets. Hull-less pumpkin seeds are easier to dry and roast for snacks or baking. Generally, pumpkins are BIG plants, so you need a good amount of room in full sun for them to be productive. Below, you'll find a selection of open pollinated, heirloom, and hybrid types that have been tested for growing in BC.

(Family: Cucumber, Cucurbitaceae)