Pumpkin, that is Cucurbita pepo L., belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, genre Cucurbita. Pumpkin is a herbaceous annual plant, with a climbing trunk or creeping on the ground, in some varieties can reach the length of some meters, whereas in others gets a bushy aspect, it is covered by hard fluff and sometimes having thorns as well. Leaves have an oval-stretched shape with a heart-shaped base. Flowers have pentagonal shaped peduncles. Male flowers are grouped in bunches at the base of leaves and have a calyx made of five wiry parts, whereas female flowers are solitary. The flowers have a bell shaped golden yellow corolla. Fruits are very variable in shape and in size according to variety, from large spherical to stretched pear shape, with a smooth or wrinkled surface. In the pulp are contained many flat oval seeds.

In its many shapes and colors, pumpkin is a versatile and useful vegetable, not only in kitchen

 The most known varieties of pumpkins are Cucurbita maxima (sweet pumpkin) and Cucurbita moschata. Cucurbita maxima has a fruit - that is the part commonly known with the name of pumpkin - of pretty big size, it can also weigh 80 kilograms (176 pounds). To this species belongs the big wintertime pumpkins, with a turban shaped aspect, as well as the big oval shaped pumpkins, with a yellow-orange pulp, pretty floury and with a basically sweet taste. The skin of ripe pumpkin shows a green-gray or yellow color as well as orange-red. Pumpkins belonging to the Cucurbita moschata genre are hollow, of average size and dark green or yellow-orange color, have a sweet and soft pulp. Finally, Cucurbita Pepo is the family to which belong the so called zucchini.

 As pumpkins are not used in kitchen or for nutritional purposes only, it should be remembered some types are generally used for cosmetics or for the making of containers and tools. Wherever in the world men have learnt to make containers from pumpkins. For example, in Africa with hollow pumpkins men are used to make water operated pipes, where the smoke produced by the small burner is sent through a wood cylinder in the water contained in the pumpkin and in the upper part there is a hole from which filtered smoke is being inspired. Some varieties of pumpkins belonging to the Cucurbita Lagenaria genre, when they reach full ripeness, have a very hard skin, and once were cultivated in many countries in order to make containers, flasks for wine or water, and even funnels. For this reason Lagenaria pumpkin is also called “Wine Pumpkin”, as after having been dried, the inside shows a cavity which can be used for keeping or transporting wine, water and other liquids. Some small sized pumpkins are used - after having been dried and divided into two halves - as spoons or ladles.

 Pumpkin is sown in springtime and get full ripeness in August. For nutritional purposes are being used three species only: Cucurbita Maxima, Cucurbita Moschata and Cucurbita Pepo. Pumpkin requires a tempered climate, with a temperature ranging from 18°C (64°F) to 24°C (75°F). The best temperature for vegetation ranges from 10°C (50°F) to 25°C (77°F); in case it is sown at a temperature lower than 10°C (5'°F), germination is delayed until temperature does not reach an acceptable level. As for soil, pumpkin is not very demanding, it adapts itself to every type, however to get the best results it is appropriate to remember it prefers a fresh and soft soil, of average composition, rich in organic substances, with no stagnation of water and slightly acid.

 In case it is wished to obtain large fruits, it will enough to keep plants apart - six or seven meters one from each other should be enough (19-22 feet) - and in the middle of the season it will be left just one fruit to the plant. The soil must be well manured since the beginning of the cultivation in order to avoid an excessive use of fertilizers which would favor the formation and development of leaves instead of fruits. It will be enough to water the plants once a week while remembering to put a wood support under the pumpkin in order to avoid the fruit to get rotten.

 It is highly probable pumpkin is from Central America, in fact the first pumpkin seeds were found in Mexico and are dated back to the period from 6,000 to 7,000 b.C. In North America yellow pumpkin was one of the main foods of indigenous people: the first settlers learnt from them to cultivate and use pumpkin. Pumpkin - together with potatoes and tomatoes - has been among the first vegetables imported in Europe after the discovery of America.

 Before purchasing a pumpkin it should be paid attention to some factors in order to choose a high quality product. First of all, pumpkin must be fresh and ripe: when slightly struck with knuckles, pumpkin must emit a hollow sound. Check the peduncle: it must be soft and well anchored to the pumpkin, the skin must not have any bruise. Because of its size, pumpkin is frequently bought is cut parts instead of the whole fruit. In this case it is good to check the cut part is not dry, the pulp must be hard and with a ripe aspect and that seeds are still slippy and wet. Cucurbita maxima is probably the most used variety in kitchen as it is suited for the preparation of many dishes. The other “long” varieties are best suited for the preparation of soups together with other vegetables.

 Pieces of pumpkin can be kept in the refrigerator - in the vegetable section - preferably wrapped in a film and consumed within few days as they tend to easily dehydrate. In case pumpkins are bought as a whole, it is good to remember they can be kept all wintertime long in a dark, fresh and dry place. In case it is needed a longer keeping, it is enough to cut the pulp in small cubes, to boil them for some minutes in hot water, and therefore they can be be frozen.

 The pulp of pumpkin contains many active principles and in particular carotenoids, mucilages and pectic substances. The seeds mainly contain phytosterols, fat oils and phytochelatin. The pulp and juice have laxative and diuretic effects, whereas, for external use, it can be used as a cosmetic treatment for the skin, a traditional remedy to soften and revitalize skin. From fresh and crushed seeds can be extracted an oil with a dark color and a pungent smell; toasted and salted are an excellent snack. The main medical property of seeds is a vermifuge action, in particular against tapeworm. This property derives from an aminoacid - cucurbitine - which paralyzes the tapeworm and causes its detachment from the bowel. The use of seeds as a vermifuge is well tolerated and has no contraindications, even tough its efficiency cannot be compared to male fern, however - as opposed to it - has the advantage of having no side effects and to allow the repetition of the treatment in case it did not work properly.

 As a laxative, it can be used pumpkin juice to be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach. It should be remembered, despite these remedies can be considered harmless, it is always best to ask a doctor or a specialist. The pulp of pumpkin has few calories: 100 grams of pumpkin pulp contain just 15 calories. Just like carrots and other yellow-orange colored vegetables, pumpkin contains high quantities of vitamin A and betacarotene, it is also rich in vitamin C, potassium and mineral salts. According to some researches, pumpkin - by keeping a correct water balance in the organism - is useful for the prevention of cancer. The pulp can be used in many ways, besides cooking, for example as a remedy for skin inflammations. Seeds, besides being useful against tapeworm, have qualities for the prevention of urinary tract disturbs. From the pulp can be obtained an extract which can be added to milk or to fruit juice, and can be used as a remedy for gastric disturbs and for prostate. With pumpkin pulp can be prepared a face-pack. For its preparation is enough to have a slice of raw pumpkin, a handful of seeds and some honey, mix all ingredients and spread on the face allowing it to work for some minutes: the skin will benefit from this treatment.