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Pumpkins
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Pumpkins are in the plant kingdom. They are an angiosperm, which is a plant that has flowers. They are in the Cucurbitaceae family, the gourd family. Gourds have a thick skin and a soft inside with lots of seeds. You know what it looks like inside a pumpkin when you cut the top off the pumpkin and pull out the insides with all the seeds and stringy stuff. The other plants in this family are cucumbers, melons, and squash.
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"Pumpkins are among the easiest plants to grow and can be an ideal gardening project for families and children," said Birdsong. "Homeowners can plant a small pumpkin patch in their own yard in early June and harvest a fresh bushel for next year's home decor projects in the fall."
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Pumpkins have many important feeder roots near the surface and roots grow to about the same spread as vines. Weed control can be difficult after the vines have spread. Be especially careful when cultivating near the main stem and do not move them after the fruit have formed because they are brittle and can easily break.
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In 2000, the Pumpkins broke up after Fester discovered the 'other' use for Gerbils, and hence had nothing left to whine about. In late 2001, Fester immediately formed a new christian rock band - Zwan - that featured Thing and David Pajo, the guitarist from Slint. "Slint is the most terrifying thing I've ever heard," said Fester. "Not half as terrifying as Guided By Voices," said guitarist Matt Sweeney, who suffers from Post-Bob Pollard Stress Disorder (PBPSD). Their album was released to mixed reviews, and soon Fester broke up his new band as well. Matt Sweeney, driven mad by this new experience, did something with Will Oldham, that has long since been forgotten to the long channels of history.
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Pumpkins can be harvested after their rinds are hard and their skins have turned orange. Exposure of pumpkins in the field to prolonged (1-2 weeks) temperatures below 50°F can result in chilling injury and lead to rotting in storage. Leave 3-4 inches of stem on the fruits since pumpkins without stems store poorly. Gourds should be allowed to mature as long as possible on the vine, but should be protected from prolonged cool temperatures like pumpkins. To dry gourds, first wash gently in a solution of 10 parts water and 1 part bleach, carefully removing all dirt, then store in a warm, dry location. Pumpkins and gourds should be stored at 55-70°F and at 70% relative humidity.
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Pumpkins have historically been pollinated by the native squash bee Peponapis pruinosa, but this bee has declined, probably due to pesticide sensitivity, and today most commercial plantings are pollinated by honeybees. One hive per acre (4,000 m² per hive) is recommended by the United States of America (US) Department of Agriculture. If there are inadequate bees for pollination, gardeners often have to hand pollinate. Inadequately pollinated pumpkins usually start growing but abort before full development. An opportunistic fungus is ... sometimes blamed for abortions.
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