Greetings, Friends!
It has begun. A long, late summer is meandering its way toward Fall. It's a season of beloved flavors, flannel, stunning foliage, and of course - the pumpkin. Depending on your personal affinity, this is a season of deep joy or annoyance, as the pumpkin is ceremoniously paraded about our coffee shops and infused into every food imaginable. But there is no doubt about it - we love Fall. Rasmussen Reports announced their latest survey, conducted just last week, and Fall holds steady as the most loved season: 41% of the 1,255 Americans who responded selected Fall over Summer, Spring, and Winter. There could be lots of contributing factors, including the great weather, the pretty leaves, and the holiday season. My hypothesis is that Americans love Fall because it is the most engaging of all the seasons - the season of festivals, and apple picking, pumpkin patch hunting, and FOOTBALL.
It's a special time within our homes, as well. Last week we touched on the subject of "nesting," a common activity done this time of year when we take stock of what's inside our dwellings, preparing them to comfort and support us through the cold Winter months. We gather for the Winter, just like any other animal, and in so doing create a relationship with fall harvest crops unique to any other - they first delight us by creating a temporary, festive décor, and then serve as nourishment. This is not something that rose out of popularity along with the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but rather something we have been doing for centuries. Something that holds deeper meaning and connects us with our ancestors.
Cool season crops are hardier, and they tend to keep for much longer than warm season crops. This, during our ancestors' lifetimes, was particularly helpful for survival through the winter months. Crops could be harvested and stored in the family cellar, called a Root Cellar, and feed the family for months. Cold season crops include root vegetables, as the cellar's name implies, but they also include pumpkin, gourds, and dried corn. However, unlike carrots and turnips, these cold season crops don't need to be kept in the Root Cellar to remain fresh. These particularly beautiful plants can instead be brought inside and create a seasonally festive look.
Pumpkin has been a beloved carving apparatus in the Fall months in North America for nearly two hundred years. The Irish legend behind the Jack O' Lantern was published in a local penny paper in 1836, in which the lantern is actually made from a turnip. (I must admit, this is a much creepier version of the Jack O' Lantern.) The story's popularity led to the widespread carving of turnips in Europe in the years following, making its way toward the United States. Pumpkins were grown in larger numbers in North America and quickly became the medium of choice for these fall carvings, only growing in popularity since as the quintessential fall decoration.
Photo Credit: Smithsonian Magazine
Like any plant, the pumpkin has been grown in many different variations. In recent years, pumpkin farmers have been producing larger quantities of the lesser-known variations, and now there are often many different types to choose from when visiting the local pumpkin patch. Visiting my own local patch last weekend I was delighted to explore the spectrum of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes these plants can produce, and it inspired me to share them with you. Which one would you choose?!
The Sugar Pie Pumpkin
Traditional to the core, this pumpkin is your typical Jack O' Lantern variety. It's also the traditional type of pumpkin from which pumpkin puree is derived, the foundation for pumpkin pies, breads, and other heavenly sweets.
The Galeux d'Eysines Pumpkin
A beautiful cream-apricot color, this pumpkin is a French heirloom variety that is celebrated for its flavorful sweet flesh. It's also known as the 'peanut pumpkin' because of blisters that appear on the skin, looking like peanut shells. Seeds come at a healthy premium, as bakers increasingly turn toward the Galeux d'Eysines to make their prized Thanksgiving and holiday pies, breads, and cakes. This pumpkin can be stored for up to six months, making it a perfect seasonal choice to bring home.
The Italian Stripe Pumpkin
Also known as the Batwing Pumpkin, this variety can produce pumpkins with up to 50/50 green and orange colored skin. According to The Artisan Food Company, Italian pumpkins are "carefully aged to crease their water content, giving them a firm texture and a distinctive buttery sweet flavour that is perfect for baking and gratins."
The Jarrahdale Pumpkin
In my opinion, this variety is the most unique. It's gorgeous gray-blue color and pronounced ribs embody the curious, spooky theme of colder weather. They come from Australia, where most of their squash produce a blue hue. It has a sweet flavor that can be used in our beloved Fall baked goods, and in Australia they eat Jarrahdale as a roasted side.
Porcelain Doll Pumpkin
The most beautiful, in my opinion, this pumpkin evokes fairytale feelings. If you are looking for a storied, cabinet-of-curiosities aesthetic, look no further than the Porcelain Doll Pumpkin. It looks good enough to eat, and it is, as Porcelain Doll is cultivated for its sweet flesh. The flesh itself is an enchanting orange-apricot, with deeply expressed ribs and a sunken stem. A pumpkin for the storybooks.
The Long Island Cheese Pumpkin
One of the first squash varieties cultivated for consumption, The Long Island Cheese Pumpkin is named after its shape - like a wheel of cheese. The flesh is very smooth and stringless, and preferred among many chefs.
The Baby Boo Pumpkin
Cute and tiny and white, these little pumpkins are popular with the kiddos! They are grown on a vine that produces ten or more at a time. Less known is that these pumpkins also produce sweet flesh that can be used in your pies and pastries.
The Cinderella Pumpkin
Surprisingly mild for its deep orange-red color, the Cinderella Pumpkin is widely cultivated in France and referred to as Rouge Vif D'Etampes. According to The Spruce, these pumpkins were introduced to the United States in the 1800's and later became known as Cinderella Pumpkins because of their resemblance to Disney's depiction of the princess's carriage to her fateful ball.
And Finally…..The Goblin Pumpkin
What fun this one is! Dark gray/black skin and bright green warts, this pumpkin embodies the ghoulish spirit of Halloween. Having never seen this variety before, the Goblin Pumpkin stole my heart. I ended up bringing this one back to grace my porch and welcome in the stirrings of the spooky season.
And that's it for us this week, friends! Let us know in the comments: what is your favorite pumpkin and why?
We'll be back soon with more content, bringing you closer to the intersection of nature and design. Until then, be well and take care of one another!
