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As fall approaches , many happy home gardeners start decorating with bright plants and fruit they ’ve picked from their own gardens , the husbandman marketplace , or the store . Yet , distinguishing between squash , pumpkins and gourds is not always easy . “ Is a pumpkin vine a squash racquets or a gourd vine , or is it just a Cucurbita pepo ? ” asks a deal of people who decorate their home .
pumpkin and crush belong to the same category , Cucurbitaceae , yet they have decided differences that adjust them asunder With fall harvest season upon us , it ’s plebeian to see these eatable plant start up in recipes , palm , and of course , cut up for Halloween jack - o - lantern . Understanding the nuances between squash and pumpkin varieties helps James Cook select the good one for their stunner or craft
Pumpkins Tend to be Round While Squash are Oblong
One of the most obtrusive differences comes down to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe . autumn pumpkin are typically round or symmetrically ellipse . Their duncical , rugged tegument wrapping snugly around the rounded form , allowing pumpkins to sit upright on their base . Squash , on the other hand , grow in elongated , oblong shapes with curve neck or tapered end . This causes squelch to sit at an angle or need to lean against something . Gourds also return into the oblong category , growing in all sorts of warped , bumpy shapes .
Pumpkins are Considered Fruits and Squash are Vegetables
Botanically speaking , pumpkins , squash , and gourds all constitute fruit because they stop seeds and develop from the ovary of flowering plant . However , in culinary context , pumpkin vine are treated as fruit while squash are used as veggie . The sweet smack of pumpkins lends itself well to yield applications like pumpkin pie , breads , preserve , and even lattes . Savory squash varieties are better suited for salad , soup , casseroles , and other entrees requiring vegetable .
Pumpkins Have Thick, Tough Rinds and Squash are Thinner
Pumpkins develop a duncish , protective rind that can be difficult to pierce with a knife . The toilsome shell keeps the pumpkin intact through the develop season as well as over wintertime during storehouse . Squash rind tend to be slight and easier to slice up through . For illustration acorn squash has a delicate skin equate to traditional pumpkins . Butternut squash spring up a tougher rind , but still thin than a carving pumpkin vine .
Pumpkins Grow Much Larger than Squash
autumn pumpkin thrive through October and can reach prodigious size over 50 pounds . Giant autumn pumpkin originate for competitions routinely weigh over 1000 pounds . Even typical carving pumpkins turn much larger than wintertime squash vine diversity . Though acorn and butternut squash can size up nicely , they top out around 5 pound sign typically . crush industrial plant only yield a few fruits per vine compare to the many pumpkins one pumpkin plant can grow .
Pumpkin Seeds are Edible, Squash Seeds are Not
Inside a fresh Cucurbita pepo dwell hundreds of flavorless , white source surface in a yellow husk . These seed hold back nutrients including zinc , Mg , and plant - base omega-3 fatty acids . Roasted Cucurbita pepo seeds make for a delicious , crunchy snack . However , the seeds of squash vine are not eat . They are toxic and contain a compound called cucurbitacin that causes bitter and indigestion . Only pumpkin seed get the edible label .
Pumpkins Last Longer than Squash
Thanks to their buddy-buddy , protective racing shell and stout vine , pumpkins last much longer in storage than squash racquets . Pumpkins can be kept for 3 - 6 months in a cool , dry plaza . Their sturdy shells prevent moisture loss . wintertime mash begin to deteriorate within 2 - 3 month , even in idealistic storage conditions . The thin rinds lose more moisture over clip , causing the fruit inside to shrivel .
Squash Has More Variety than Traditional Pumpkins
Pumpkin diverseness comprehend little sugar Proto-Indo European pumpkin , Jack - be - Little toy , grandiloquent Connecticut Field types , and large cutting pumpkins like Howden . Though they differ in size and color , traditional pumpkins have a similar sweet , nutty flavor . wintertime squash offers incredible diversity from acorn to buttercup , hubbard to kabocha . Each squash type boasts unique textures , flavors , colors , and best United States .
Pumpkins Grow on Long Vines, Squash on Small Bushes
Pumpkin plants straggle across the garden , spreading 10 metrical unit or more with retentive , prickly stems . Squash grow on smaller , bushy plants around 2 - 3 feet wide-eyed . Vining pumpkins require ample space between works and benefit from trellising . Compact squash scrub allow for for soaked spacing . Grow autumn pumpkin away from walk to avoid trigger . Squash can twinge into tighter plots .
Pumpkins and Squash Have Different Nutrient Profiles
While pumpkins and squelch offer similar vitamin A benefits , their nutrition differs . Pumpkins have more fiber and atomic number 19 than squash . wintertime squash packs more vitamin coulomb , magnesium , and manganese . Acorn squash rhythm out pie pumpkin in vitamin E. Butternut wins for folate degree . Pumpkin ’s claim to nutrient fame is its carotenoids for eye and resistant health .
The Differences Among Pumpkins, Squash and Gourds
In the simplest term , we carve pumpkins , manipulate squash and decorate with gourds . Yet , the lines between these three terms are middling blurred . Not all pumpkins are grown for jack - group O - lanterns and some gourds can be eaten when untested .
Lets unknot this closed book by first talking about the similarity between the three . They are all members of the Cucurbitaceae family . In plus to pumpkins , squash and gourds , this family is also home to cucumbers and melon . As you may have think , cucurbit are herbaceous vining plants . However , some member like zucchini grow on very curt vine .
The Cucurbitaceae phratry consist of approximately 125 genus . Squash and pumpkins are both plant in the Cucurbita genus . you could also find some decorative gourds here . Other gourd , like birdhouse , snake and luffa are list in other genera within the Cucurbitaceae family .
To break it down further , pumpkins , squash and gourd have varieties in the Cucurbita pepo species . Yet pumpkins and squash cultivars can also be found in Cucurbita maxima , Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita mixta . Thus , scientific classification alone does nt clear distinguish among the three . We have to dig a little rich .
Some people say that pumpkins are simply a case of squash . When we consider the dispute between squash and pumpkin , its often based on figure , size and exercise . We typically think of pumpkins as being larger and debauchee than most mash . There are some exceptions , like mini pumpkin , pie pumpkin , and round squashes like acorn and buttercup .
Not only are Proto-Indo European autumn pumpkin humble than carving pumpkin , but their flesh is ordinarily sweeter and creamier . They are also sometimes called sugar pumpkins . As a oecumenical rule , pumpkins that are grow to eat are commonly used in adust good or sweet , like gem and patty .
What are the different types of pumpkins? Squashes explained…
FAQ
Are pumpkin and crush the same ?
Why do Americans call pumpkin vine squash ?
Can you eat pumpkin vine like you do squash ?
Which tastes better , squash or pumpkin ?
