1. Hello Pumpkin Gardeners!

2. Did you know that people have been growing pumpkins and squash for over six thousand years? Pumpkins and squash are some of the oldest crops in America! Picture source - http://www.history.org

3. You can save the seeds from your pumpkins and plant them next year. If you grow more than 1 kind of pumpkin or squash though, they will probably mix and your plants will look different next year. It can still be fun to try! Picture source - http://commons.wikimedia.org

4. By planting these pumpkins and saving their seeds, you are a part of this history! HAVE FUN!

5. Jarrahdale This pumpkin originated in Australia! When ripe, the pumpkins will weigh between 6-10 pounds. They are sweet and moist to eat! Picture source - http://www.rareseeds.com

6. Cheese Picture source - http://localfoods.about.com These flat pumpkins look like wheels of cheese. They are one of the oldest cultivated varieties of pumpkin in the United States. They were first sold in 1807. When ripe they weight 6-12 pounds each.

7. Jack Be Little These tiny pumpkins are great for decorations, but they can still be eaten. When ripe, they weigh less than half a pound each! They were first introduced by the Hollar Seed Company in 1987. Picture source - http://www.gurneys.com

8. Wee-B-Little These miniature pumpkins weigh less than 1 pound each and have prickle free handles! Picture source - http://www.neseed.com

9. Howden This pumpkin was developed by John Howden in Massachusetts and was first sold by Harris Moran in 1973. The pumpkins are large, usually 20-35 pounds each! Picture source - http://www.seedsofchange.com

10. Lumina This white pumpkin was developed by chance in a California pumpkin patch in the late 1990s. Now this white variety is a popular pumpkin! The ripe pumpkins average 12 pounds each. Picture source - http://www.harrisseeds.com

11. New England Pie This pumpkin is also known as Small Sugar. They weigh just over 4 pounds when ripe. Picture source - http://www.americanmeadows.com

12. Winter Luxury This pumpkin dates back to at least 1917 when it was first sold by the Gill Brothers of Portland, Oregon. The pumpkins average 7-8 pounds each. The name comes from it's beautiful, textured skin. Picture source - http://www.johnnyseeds.com

13. Baby Pam This pumpkin averages 3-4 pounds and will almost always ripen in the northern states. Picture source - http://www.johnnyseeds.com

14. Long Pie This pumpkin dates back to at least 1888 when it was sold by the Burpee Company by the name of St. George. It almost became extinct, but the seeds were brought back for sale in the 1980s. The pumpkins average 4 pounds each. Picture source - http://www.highmowingseeds.com

15. Seminole Squash These squash were planted by the Seminole Indians in the Everglades Region of Florida in the 1500s. The Seminoles named them “Chassa-howitska” which means “hanging pumpkin.” This squash is considered one of the ten most endangered American foods! Picture source - http://www.rareseeds.com

16. Connecticut Field This pumpkin was originally grown by Native Americans and was adopted by colonists before 1700. The pumpkins can weight from 15-25 pounds each. Picture source - http://www.burpee.com