Red, white, blue – still pumpkins

Q. Is there a Cinderella pumpkin for real?

Michelle from Campbell

A. The answer is yes. The Cinderella pumpkin originated in France and is of the heirloom variety, since the late 1800s. The latin name is Cucurbita maxima “Rouge vif d’Etampes.” It takes 110 days for it to grow from seed into a large squash. So not quite as quick as the scene in Disney’s Cinderella when the pumpkin is changed into Cinderella’s carriage. If you remember the scene, the shape of this pumpkin is similar.

Pumpkins are a warm-season crop, used mostly for fall decoration and also for breads, pies, soup and roasted seeds. There are many varieties of the sprawling vines, producing many different sizes of pumpkins: Miniature - fit in the palm of your hands; small - about 8 or so pounds; medium- includes Cinderella, Prize Winners - the kind that take the grand prize at the local fairs. Pumpkins now come in many different colors: white, red, green, slate-blue, brown, light pink and traditional orange. Also warty, smooth texture, striped and flattened shapes are all available.

These days, pumpkins are used for fall harvest displays to add more interest, while being accompanied with the original carved for Halloween faces of a jack-o-lantern. The art of jack-o-lantern-carving started with the people of Ireland, where they were placed in windows or near doorways to frighten away wandering evil spirits.

Many of the non Jack-o-lantern type pumpkins are great for eating. One of the favorites is called “Long Island Cheese.” Consider using these pumpkins for Thanksgiving by either baking and scooping out the meat or by just baking in the shell and adding spices and sugar to the top during the baking process. They are so yummy.

This fall you may want to consider recycling Halloween/fall pumpkins for wildlife. Here are some other tips: compost your pumpkin, turn your jack-o-lantern into a snack-o-lantern (pumpkin feeder). The birds and squirrels will love it. Leave seeds for large birds or small animals on a flat surface, a tray or shallow bowl. This can be mixed with some bird seed. Cut pumpkin flesh into pieces and leave out. Or save this year’s pumpkin seeds to plant next spring. Be sure you have room in your garden, as these vines will go on and on.

Happy fall, enjoy all the colors that pumpkins can supply for this season of thanks.

Today’s answer provided by Cynthia Foust, OSU Extension master gardener volunteer. Winter hours for the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic vary. Submit questions to the clinic at 330-533-5538 or drop samples off to the Extension Office in Canfield.