Pumpkins are everywhere these days! Used for pies, carving, and fall displays, they’re a great addition to the table or the porch that remind us that cooler days are getting close.

One variety of pumpkin that grows very well in our relentless heat and tastes delicious is the Florida Seminole pumpkin.

Traditionally grown by the Calusa, Creek, and Miccosukee peoples, Seminole pumpkins remain one of the tastiest and most reliable pumpkins for Florida gardens. The Seminole people gave the name "Chassahowitza" to a region on the gulf in Southwest Florida. The name means "pumpkin hanging place." It's likely that the pumpkins they were referring to were Seminole pumpkins, or a related variety.

To learn more about growing the Seminole pumpkin in your home landscape visit the Florida Master Gardener website: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/seminole-pumpkin.html

The Seminole pumpkin is light orange, similar to butternut squash in taste and texture, but is sweeter. The flesh is less fibrous than a traditional jack-o-lantern pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo). Mature fruits generally weigh 6 to 12 pounds and can be found mostly at farmers markets and from backyard growers. A great way to use this pumpkin is in the same way as a butternut squash. Soups and roasted are the best ways to get the flavor to shine.  

You can find information on fall festivals, farmers markets, and local pumpkin patches such as Farmer Mikes U-Pick in Bonita Springs by visiting www.swflfresh.com