Pick your own pumpkin in our pumpkin patch.  This is what most people prefer - an actual field where the pumpkins grew.  The downside can be....dirt or mud if it just rained.  And since the good pumpkins may go early, patches my need to be replenished in the field with pumpkins brought in from elsewhere, we will be bringing in pumpkins from another patch....but the experience is the same.  Kids run around looking for the perfect pumpkin out in the pumpkin patch. 

Crossville TN

A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae (which also includes gourds).  It commonly refers to cultivars of any one of the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and cucurbita moschata.  They typically have a thick, orange or yellow shell, creased from the stem to the bottom, containing the seeds and pulp. In Australian English, the name pumpkin generally refers to the broader category called winter squash in North America.

Description   The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which is Greek for large melon.  The French adapted this word to pompon, which the British changed to pumpion and later American colonists changed that to the word we use today, pumpkin.  The origin of pumpkins is not definitively known, although they are thought to have originated in North America.  The oldest evidence, pumpkin-related seeds dating between 7000 and 5500 B.C., were found in Mexico.  Pumpkins are a squash-like fruit that range in size from less than 1 pound to over 1,000 pounds.

Since some squash share the same botanical classifictions as pumpkins, the names are frequently used interchangeably.  In general, pumpkin stems are more rigid, prickly, and angular than squash stems, which are generally softer, more rounded, and more flard where joined to the fruit.

Pumpkins generally weigh 9-18 lbs, with the largest capable of reaching a weight of over 75 lbs.  The pumpkin varies greatly in shape, ranging from oblate to oblong.  The rind is smooth and usuallyy lightly ribbed.  Although pumpkins are usually orange or yellow, some fruits are dark green, pale green, orange-yellow, white, red, and grey.

Pumpkins are monoecious, having both male and female flowers on the same plant.  The female flower is distinguished by th esmall ovary at the base of the petals.  These bright and colorful flowers have extremely short life spans and may only open for as short a time as one day.  The color of pumpkins is derived from the orange pigments abundant in them.  The main nutrients are lutein and both alpha and betea carotene, the latter of which generates vitamin A in the body.

Pumpkins are grown all around the world for a variety of reasons ranging from agricultural purposes (such as animal feed) to commercial and ornamental sales.  Out of seven continents, only Antarctica is unable to produce pumpkins; the biggest international producers of pumpkins include the United States, Mexico, India, and China.  The traditional American pumpkin is the Connecticut Field Variety.

As one of the most popular crops in the United Staes, 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced each year.  The top pumpkin-producing states in the U.S. include Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.  According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. 95%  of the U.S. crop intended for processing is grown in Illinois.  Nestle produces 85% of the processed pumpkin in the U.S.   In the fall of 2009, rain in Illinois devastated the Nestle crop, resulting in a shortage affecting the entire country during the Thanksgiving holiday season.

Pumpkins are a warm-weather crop that is usually planted in early July.  The specific conditions necessarry for growing pumpkins require that soil temperatures three inches deep are at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and soil that holds water well.  Pumpkin crops may suffer if there is a lack of water or because of cold tempertures, below 65 degrees; frost can be detrimental, and sandy soil or soil with poor water filtration.  Pumpkins are, however, rather hardy, and even if many leaves and portions of the vine are removed or damaged, and the plant can very quickly re-grow secondary vines to replace what was removed.

Pumpkins produce both a male and female flower; honeybees play a significant role in fertilzation.  Pumpkins have historically been pollinated by the native squash bee Peponapis pruinosa, but this bee has declined, probably due to pesticide sensitivity, and today most commercial plantings are pollinated by honeybees.  One hive per acre is recommeded by the United States of America Department of Agriculture.  If there are inadequate bees for pollination, gardeners often have to hand pollinate.  Inadequately pollinated pumpkins usually start growing but abort before full development.  An opportunistic fungus is also sometimes blamed for abortions.

Cooking   Pumpkins, are very versatile in their uses for cooking.  Most parts of the pumpkin are edible, including the fleshy shell, the seeds, the leaves, and even the flowers.  In the United States. pumpkin is a very popular Hallowenn and Thanksgiving staple.  Although most Americans use store-bought canned pumpkin, homemade pumpkin puree can serve the same purpose.

When ripe, the pumpkin can be boiled, baked, steamed, or roasted.  In its native North America, it is a very important, traditional part of the autumn harvest, eaten mashed and making its way into soups and purees.  Often, it is make into pie, various kinds of which are a traditional staple of the Canadian and American Thanksgiving holiday.  In Mexico and the U.S., the seeds are often roasted and eaten as a snack.

Pumpkins that are still small and green may be eaten in the same way as squash or zucchini.  In the Middle East, pumpkin is used for sweet dishes; a well-known sweet delicacy is called halawa yaqtin.  In South Asian countries such as India, pumpkin is cooked with butter, sugar, and spices in a dish called kadu ka halwa.  Pumpkin is used to make sambar in Udupi cuisine.  In Guangxi province, China, the leaves of the pumpkin plant are consumed as a cooked vegetable or in soups.  In Australia and New Zealand, pumpkin is often roasted in conjunction with othe vegetables.  In Japan, small pumpkins are served in savory dishes, including tempura.  In Myanmar, pumpkins are used in both cooking and desserts.  The seeds are a popular sunflower seed substiture.  In Thailand, small pumpkins are steamed with custard inside and served as a dessert.  In Italy it can be used with cheeses as a savory stuffing or ravioli.  Also, pumpkin can be used to flavor both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

In the southwestern United States and Mexico, pumpkin and squash flowers are a popular and widely available food item.  They may be used to garnish dishes, and they may be dredged in a batter then fried in oil.  Pumpkin leaves are a popular vegetable in the Western and central regions of Kenya; they are called seveve, and are an ingredietnt of mukimo, respectively, whereas the pumpkin itself is usually boiled or steamed.  The seeds are popular with children who roast them on a pan before eating them.

Extract   East China Normal University research on type-1 diabetic rats, published in July 2007, suggests that chemical compounds found in pumpkin promote regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells, resulting in increased bloodstream insulin levels.  According to the research team leader, pumpkin extract may be a very good product for pre-diabetic people, as well as those who already have diabetes, possibly reducing or eliminating the need for insulin injections for some type-1 diabetics.  It is unknown whether pumpkin extract has any effect on diabetes mellitus type 2, as it was not the subject of the study.

Seeds   Pumpkin seeds, also know as pepitas, are small flat, green, edible seeds.  Most pumpkin seeds are covered by a white husk, although some pumpkin varieties produce seeds without them.  Pumpkin seeds are a popular snack that can be found hulled or semi-hulled ar mot grocery stores.  However, roasting pumpkin seeds (usually scooped out of jack-o-lanterns) is a popular Halloween treat.  Pumpkin seeds have many healthe benefits, some of which include a good source of protein, zinc, and other vitamins, and are even said to lower cholesterol.  One gram of pumpkin seed protein contains as much tryptophan as a full glass of milk.  Pumpkin seed are a good source of magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and phytosterols.

Pumpkin seed oil   Pumpkin see oil is a thick, green-red oil that is produced from roasted pumpkin seeds.  When used for cooking or as a salad dressing, pumpkin seed oil is generally mixed with other oils because of its robust flavor.  It is used in cooking in central and eastern Europe.  It is considered a delicacy in Austria, where a little is often added in traditional local cuisine on pumpkin soup and on potato salad.  In some restaurants in Vienna, they propose even to add a few drops on vanilla ice cream.  Long believed to be a folk remedy for prostate problems, it has been claimed to combat benign prostatic hyperplasia.  Pumpkin seed oil contains essential fatty acids that help maintain healthy blood vessels, nerves and tissues.

Other uses   Canned pumpkin is often recommended by veterinararians as a dietary supplement for dogs and cats that are experiencing digestive problems.  The high fiber content helps to aid proper digestion.  Raw pumpkin can be fed to poultry, as a supplement to regular feed, during the winter to help maintain egg production, which usually drops off during the cold months.

Halloween   Pumpkins are commonly carved into decorative lanterns called jack-o-lanterns for the Halloween season in North America.  Throughout Britain and Ireland, there is a long tradition of carving lanterns from vegetables, particularly the turnip, mangelwurzel, or swede.  Not until 1837, however, does jack-o-lanterns appear as a term for a carved vegetable lantern, and the carved lantern does not become associated specifically with Halloween until 1866.  Significantly, both occurred not in Britain or Ireland- but in North America. 

In the United States, the carved pumpkin was first associated with the harvest season in general, long before it became an emblem of Halloween.

Crossville TN's #1 Haunted Forest is more than just a haunted forest it is unlike any other haunted house because it takes place in a    REAL forest- Our haunted forest and haunted hollow is full of monsters, ghouls, and zombies, with all the creepy, natural ambiance to go with it.  There are no walls or roofs to protect you from the horrors lurking through-out the haunted forest and haunted hollow. The Haunted Forest spans over one mile of pure fright, with winding trails and mesmerizing bright skies, this is twice as long as the average haunted house. Crossville TN

Halloween Event Crossville, TN/ Haunted Forest