Yellow pumpkin - pressing block 10x10 cm

Pumpkins were grown in Central and South America as early as between 9,000 and 7,000 BC, and it was not until the 16th century that the pumpkin was first introduced to Europe.

Pumpkins are used in a number of traditional dishes such as pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and pumpkin soup. The oilseeds of the pumpkin can also be eaten roasted and are delicious as an appetizer or for baking with in a multigrain bread.

CULTIVATION TIPS:
The pumpkin is a plant that is very sensitive to night frost, so definitely do not plant out too early. Normally you can plant outside from mid-May without risk.

Also keep in mind that the plant needs a lot of space. The pumpkin grows best in a sunny environment because it does like heat. For these reasons, planting it on a compost heap is definitely not a bad idea, the heat released from composting is a boon to the pumpkin.

For best results, top the plant as soon as it reaches about 5 feet tall so it can form side shoots. Keep 2 to 3 side shoots. When the plant has set a number of fruits it is better to remove the ever-rising side shoots so that all the plant's energy can go to the fruits.

Pumpkins need a lot of water, so try to keep the soil moist but not too wet. On very hot days it is advisable to water even twice a day, as the large leaves evaporate enormously.

HARVEST AND STORAGE:
Pumpkins really can't stand night frost, so keep an eye on the weather forecast and be sure to harvest before the first fall night frost. Light frost can already be fatal.

Pumpkins should be harvested early. If the fruits are too large, the taste deteriorates. The ideal time to harvest pumpkins is late August, early September. A pumpkin is ripe when longitudinal stripes appear on the fruit stem, these stripes appear to be slightly corked.

If you are going to harvest the pumpkin, always leave a stalk of about four inches on the pumpkin, this is good for the preservability.
Harvest pumpkins carefully to prevent damage and, in all probability, rotting at a later stage. Store pumpkins in a dry, not too cold place. This way you can keep them for up to four months.

PROBLEMS AND DISEASES:
The main disease in pumpkins is powdery mildew. This disease can be recognized by the white spots on the leaves. Mildew usually occurs later in the season. The leaves will die but you will suffer virtually no loss of production.

VARIA:
When you say pumpkin of course you immediately think of Halloween and hollowing out pumpkins.
Cut the lid of the pumpkin. With a spoon you now scrape the lid and then hollow out the entire pumpkin.

If you rinse the hollowed out pumpkin thoroughly with water with a splash of vinegar in it it will stay good longer. Let the pumpkin dry out well. Draw with a marker a Halloween face on the pumpkin and cut it out. Let an adult do this because the skin of a pumpkin is quite hard.