Today's AgriLife Extension is known for its leadership, dedication, expertise, responsiveness, and trustworthiness. Texans turn to AgriLife Extension for solutions, and its agents and specialists respond not only with answers, but with a significant return on investment to boost the Texas economy. |
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Holiday Office closures in November:
Friday, November 11, 2022 for Veterans Day
Thursday and Friday, November 24-25, 2022 for Thanksgiving
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Landowner Management Workshop
Place: Mammen Library - Meeting Room B
Subject: Tree Trimming/Diseases
Date: November 16, 2022 (Date changed due to unexpected circumstances)
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Bring your lunch and learn something new! Join Jason Mangold from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension as he lectures on tree trimming and diseases.
Register by calling Mammen Family Public Library at 830-438-4864.
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CEU PROGRAM
DONUTS AND BBQ LUNCH INCLUDED
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 2022
TIME: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM
PLACE: GILLESPIE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE 38 Business Court, Fredericksburg
PRICE: $75.00
Register by November 15, 2022 at Noon
Register by calling (830) 997-3452 or by using this link:
Click Flyer for complete information
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15 Pumpkin Facts That'll Make You Say
"Oh My Gourd"
There's a whole history to the great orange globe — and it's so much richer than your pumpkin spice latte.
Pumpkin spice lattes may have dominated every autumnal season over the last several years, but the pumpkin has been on earth for a whopping 5,000 years. There's so much more to the fruit (yep, it's a fruit!) than Starbucks, including its honorable contributions to the pie universe, its superfood status and, of course, its origin story. Here's everything you need to know about fall's favorite (and most crafty!) food.
1. The word "pumpkin" showed up for the first time in the fairy tale Cinderella.
A French explorer in 1584 first called them "gros melons," which translates into Latin as "pepon," which means large melon. It wasn't until the 17th century that they were first referred to as pumpkins.
In England, they used large beets and lit them with embers to ward off evil spirits. Irish immigrants brought their customs to America, but found that pumpkins were much easier to carve.
3. Pumpkins are grown on every continent except Antarctica.
Which makes quite a bit of sense considering, oh you know, Antartica is a 24-7 icy tundra.
The top pumpkin-producing states are Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.
5. Morton, Illinois, calls itself the "Pumpkin Capital of the World."
According to the University of Illinois, 95% of the pumpkins grown in the U.S. are harvested in Illinois soil. Morton is allegedly responsible 80% of the world's canned pumpkin production.
6. 80% of the U.S.'s pumpkin crop is available during October.
Out of the total 1.5 billion pounds, over 800 million pumpkins are ripe for the picking in a single month of the year.
7. The world's largest pumpkin was more than five feet in diameter and weighed over 1,800 pounds.
It was presented in Minnesota in October 2010.
Pumpkin pie originated in the colonies, just not as we know it today. Colonists would cut the tops of pumpkins off, remove the seeds and fill the pumpkins with milk, spices and honey, then bake them in hot ashes.
And they take between 90 and 120 days to grow. High in iron, they can be roasted to eat. The flowers that grow on pumpkin vines are also edible.
Teams compete in a pumpkin launching competition, where pumpkins are shot almost 5,000 feet from an air cannon.
They range in color like red, yellow and green, and have names like Hooligan, Cotton Candy and Orange Smoothie.
12. Pumpkins are technically fruit.
More specifically, they are a winter squash in the family Cucurbitacae, which includes cucumbers and melons. But because they're savory, many people just call them vegetables anyway.
13. Every single part of a pumpkin is edible.
Yep, you can eat the skin, leaves, flowers, pulp, seeds and even the stem!
14. Pumpkins are 90% water.
And that makes them low calorie. One cup of canned pumpkin only has 83 calories and only half a gram of fat. In comparison, the same serving size of sweet potato has triple the calories. They also have more fiber than kale, more potassium than bananas and are full of heart-healthy magnesium and iron.
15. Surprisingly, pumpkin pie isn't America's favorite.
According to a survey by the American Pie Council, it's apple that takes the cake (um, pie?) — 19% of Americans say its their pie of choice. Pumpkin is in second place with a respectable 13%.
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Looking for a great recipe idea for dinner?
Connect with “Dinner Tonight”
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s award-winning program provides healthy recipes that taste great, plus tips on cooking, nutrition, and menu planning.
Click the Logo to View the Website
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Hold that whipped cream. Who says the only way to enjoy pumpkin is in pie?
Fall’s great gourd is so healthy for you that it shouldn’t be reserved just for Thanksgiving dinner. According to Julia Zumpano, RD, LD, a dietitian in Cleveland Clinic’s Section of reventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation, pumpkin is good for your:
- Eyesight and immune system. That’s thanks to vitamin A, which is naturally packed into pumpkin. Eating a single (1 cup) serving of pumpkin can provide 200 percent of most people’s recommended daily intake of the vital nutrient.
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Heart. Pumpkin’s potassium and antioxidants can help prevent heart disease – as well as some cancers.
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Cholesterol. Plant sterols in pumpkin seeds can help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. So can the omega 3 fatty acids, which help lower triglycerides (blood fats) and blood pressure.
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Weight. Pumpkin is easy on your waistline, with only 50 calories per cup. The same portion also provides 3 grams of fiber, which can keep you feeling fuller longer.
Ways to roll pumpkin into your everyday diet
Rolling pumpkin into your everyday diet isn’t hard. Julia recommends you:
1. Roast pumpkin in the oven for a side dish.
2. Stir pureed or canned pumpkin into soups or sauces (even tomato sauce) to thicken them. Pumpkin can even replace fats or carbohydrates in your recipes.
3. Substitute pumpkin for fat or oil in breads, muffins and pancakes.
4. Add pumpkin to plain or vanilla yogurt with some pumpkin spice and a dab of honey.
5. Mix pumpkin into a smoothie.
6. Toast pumpkin seeds to top a salad or roasted vegetables.
Need more inspiration?
Try these heart-healthy pumpkin recipes:
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Which pie would you choose?
You can be one step closer to a healthier holiday with one simple change! Watch this video to find out our pick of pie!
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Pumpkins are, in fact, a healthy fruit
Despite the abundance of pumpkin pies and pumpkin spice in seemingly everything this time of year, pumpkins are, in fact, a healthy option for food and an excellent source of beta carotene, a water-soluble form of vitamin A, and a good source of vitamin C, explains Jenna Anding, Ph.D., professor and associate department head for the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist.
Pumpkins are fruits, not veggies
“Botanically, anything that starts from a flower is considered a fruit,” said Joe Masabni, Ph.D., assistant professor for horticultural sciences and AgriLife Extension vegetable specialist, Overton. “So tomato, pumpkin, cucumber, strawberry, etc., are all fruits. However, how they are commonly described as is different.”
Pumpkin makes a good substitute
Pumpkins are mostly water. So used in the right way, they can be a good substitute for higher-calorie ingredients like butter and other fats.
- 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree = 1/2 cup of oil
- 3/4 cup of pumpkin puree = 1 cup of butter
- 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree = 1 egg
Pumpkin pie vs. pecan pie
As the holidays approach, the debate over which pie to choose is tough, but if a healthier choice may sway your decision, here’s a breakdown from AgriLife Extension.
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Outdoor Fall Fitness and Wellness for the Entire Family |
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Fall is one of the best times of the year for outdoor exercise and play. The summer heat has dissipated; the air is crisp; leaves are transforming into canopies of orange, gold, and red; and fall gardens are abundant with brightly colored fruits and vegetables. Whether you are beginning a fitness and wellness plan or looking for new and different opportunities to remain fit, there is hardly a better time of year to keep yourself and your family busy and healthy.
Learn more:
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Coming up in December...
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Landowner Management Workshop
Will Resume in April 2023
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Comal County
325 Resource Drive
New Braunfels, TX 78132
P. 830-620-3440
F. 830-620-3446
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Ask a Master Gardener!
Do you have a garden/plant/tree question?
You may email our master gardeners at
with your question.
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