Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
7th October 2023
Pumped Up Pumpkins
The wetter-than-usual summer may have been a disappointment for holiday makers but it was enjoyed by pumpkins, with growers reporting bigger than usual fruits. Hot weather in June gave the plants a good enthusiastic start and the wet July and August ‘pumped up’ the pumpkins, which are actually 90% water anyway.
There are a number of places offering ‘pick your own pumpkins’ during October, and whilst it might be easier to pickup your pumpkin at a supermarket it’s nowhere near as much fun as ‘choosing your own Cucurbitaceae’ out in the fresh air. I bet you won’t see ‘choose your own Cucurbitaceae’ on any posters, but pumpkins are a member of that family, along with their cucumber cousins and melon nieces and nephews.
The word ‘pumpkin’ comes from the Greek word ‘peopon’, meaning ‘large melon’. It then evolved to ‘pompon’ in French and ‘pumpion’ in Britain, with the Americans developing it into pumpkin. Personally I think I would have stuck with pumpion.
There are over 45 varieties of pumpkin ranging in colours including orange, red, yellow and green, and with great names like Hooligan, Cotton Candy, and Orange Smoothie. Who wouldn’t want a Hooligan Pumpion?
Pumpkins, and their squash relatives, were also historically one of the ‘Three Sisters’ and would be planted along with sweetcorn and beans allowing the three crops to sustain each other in a technique that was called the ‘Three Sisters Method’. The corn provided a climbing frame for the beans to climb up and they reciprocated by keeping the corn stalks stable on windy days. Pumpkins protected the corn’s shallow roots and acted as ground cover keeping weeds at bay.
Every single part of a pumpkin is edible – the skin, leaves, flowers, pulp, seeds, and even the stems – and they are a good source of potassium and vitamin A. As pumpkin skin contains the antioxidants Vitamin C, Vitamin E and beta-carotene, there is a strong link between pumpkin consumption and protecting eye health, meaning eating pumpkin skin could improve eyesight in the long-term. Lots of pumpkin dishes – like curries, soup and roast pumpkin – can be made by leaving the pumpkin skin on the flesh, or there are several recipes available for utilising the skin on it’s own. I recommend pumpkin chips (or crisps), which are really tasty and can be made in the air-fryer.
The largest pumpkin recorded in the UK was grown last year by twins Ian and Stuart Paton from Lymington, and weighed 2,656lbs (1,205kg) – as much as a small car – and they only missed out on achieving a new world record by 47lbs.
Travelling back from being weighed in Berkshire, where it was officially confirmed as the UK’s heaviest ever pumpkin, it overturned its trailer and caused chaos by blocking a road. Apparently it was only bruised – not squashed!
Soggy Nuts
But a soggy July and August hasn’t suited everything. ‘Participants at the World Conker Championships may be allowed to harden their nuts by baking them’, reported one newspaper.
According to organisers of the event, which takes place in Northamptonshire on Sunday, unseasonable weather has left this year’s crop of horse chestnuts ‘soft and mushy’, and therefore not likely to be ‘high-scorers’.
Blessed Pets
St. Francis of Assisi is credited with performing numerous miracles throughout his life, with many involving his ability to influence nature and communicate with animals. St. Francis is the patron saint of ecology, including animals, their lives and welfare, and is celebrated on 4th October, which commemorates his death in 1226.
World Animal Day, created by cynologist (a person who specializes in the care and training of dogs) Heinrich Zimmermann, is also celebrated on the 4th October. The first event was held in 1929 and in 1931 at the International Animal Protection Congress in Florence, Italy, his proposal to make World Animal Day universal was unanimously accepted and adopted as a resolution.
I am extremely proud to have been an Ambassador for the charity for the last 10 years. Find out more at www.worldanimalday.org.uk
Pet Blessings are held at many churches throughout the UK to celebrate St Francis of Assisi, with many of them being on the nearest Sunday to the 4th. St. Michael’s Church in the historic village of Llanvihangel Crucorney, near Abergavenny, will be holding their annual Blessing of Pets on Sunday the 8th at 3.00pm. There is great access for both four-leggeds and two-leggeds and ample parking in the village – and there will be tea, cake and pet treats available after the service. For more ‘substantial’ refreshments, the famous Skirrid Inn is just a ‘stone’s throw’ from the Church and also welcomes well-behaved (or recently blessed) pets.
The new Vicar at St Michael’s Church has promised to give every pet an individual blessing this year, and is well aware that some four legged friends may need a bigger blessing than others! Pets of all shapes and sizes – naughty and nice – are very welcome.
Sebastian the miniature Shetland pony and former Ambassador for the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies is still enjoying his retirement but, as he loves meeting up with his friends, is looking forward to attending again this year.
Yogi and I have attended the last few years but as she’s not been too well lately – although she insists that she has been so good she doesn’t need a Blessing this year – we are not sure if we will make this year’s service.
Please call Sian Lloyd on 07889 581181 should you require any further information, and big beautiful blessings to you all.
October has definitely arrived by stealth this year.
Working outdoors this last week I thought I was heading back into the menopause with my hot flushes, but thankfully the boys confirmed it was the heat and not my hormones.
It has felt more like spring than autumn and I don’t recall ever seeing the grass being so lush and green at this time of year – the mower won’t be laid off for the winter any time soon.
The leaves don’t seem to have had the memo to change colour and the weather for the weekend is forecast to be hot-hot-hot. Not that I’m complaining – I’ll take it gratefully as it all shortens the winter.
Happy World Animal Day and blessings to Yogi! And to you of course.