Peek into the Pumpkin Patch

Christina Mitchell

They’re big, they're orange and they conjure images of your favorite Halloween fantasies. Whether you crave or carve this Halloween icon, please enjoy our homage to that which is sliced, served and eventually smashed in the street: pumpkins!

Getting the GoodsTo procure your pumpkin like a professional:

• Pick pumpkins that aren’t bruised and have a strong stem
• Don’t forget to check the bottom of the pumpkins, which can be thinner and more prone to damage
• If it sloshes when you pick it up, odds are the insides have rotted out
• For pies, choose darker colored pumpkins or you’ll end up with scarily bright orange pie

Trivia TortureAnnoy your friends and loved ones during the carving ceremony by repeating the following:

• The largest pumpkin ever weighted 1,140 pounds (that’s a lot of pumpkin pie!)
• The largest pumpkin pie weighed in at a hefty 360 pounds and took six hours to bake
• Pumpkins are grown on six of the seven continents (Antarctica isn't too pumpkin-friendly)
• Pumpkins were once prescribed to remove freckles

Nutritional ContentAfter all of the candy and treats, are we really analyzing the nutritional content of pumpkins? Yes, we are:

• Pumpkin is a good source of Vitamin A and potassium
• One cup of pumpkin has 46 calories and three grams of fiber
• One cup of pumpkin contains 20 percent of the daily Vitamin C requirement
• Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc

Pumpkin Patches Around Town

• First United Methodist Church: 6565 Red Rd, Coral Gables; 305-667-7508.
• Little Farm: 13401 SW 224 St, Homestead; 305-258-3186
• St. John's Church: 4760 Pinetree Dr, Miami Beach; 305-531-7166

Have a happy, safe and fun Halloween!