Pumpkins are large, round orange vegetables that grow on long, sprawling vines that creep along the ground. They start out as pretty yellow flowers, and then a tiny green pumpkin begins to grow where the flower was! Pumpkins have thick, tough skin and can be very heavy. The biggest pumpkins in the world can weigh over two thousand pounds, which is heavier than a small car! Pumpkins are actually a type of fruit because they have seeds inside, but most people think of them as vegetables. In the fall, many families love visiting pumpkin patches to pick out their favorite one.
Inside a pumpkin, there are lots of slimy, stringy guts and many flat white seeds. People love to carve pumpkins into spooky jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, with glowing candles inside to light them up at night. But pumpkins are not just for decorating! The inside of a pumpkin is used to make yummy pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, and even pumpkin ice cream. You can also wash the seeds, roast them in the oven, and eat them as a crunchy, salty snack. Did you know that pumpkins are related to cucumbers and watermelons? They are all part of a big plant family called gourds!
