Smashing Pumpkin Myths: What's Big, Orange, and Having an Identity Crisis?

It’s already begun: that time of the year now known across the land
as Decorative Gourd Season. Squash are everywhere—carved into jack
o’lanterns on front porches, adorning our sideboards and porches
with strange shapes and autumn colors, and of course, baked into
pies for fall celebrations. But get ready to rethink squash,
because despite their slightly cheesy House
Beautiful vibe and family-friendly pumpkin patch associations,
they are—and we quote—"the most interesting plants in the world."
Join us this episode as we explore our surprisingly long
entanglement with the cucurbit family, from its star role as the
very first plant domesticated in the Americas to the can of Libby's
behind nine out of every ten pumpkin pies. Along the way, we figure
out what on Earth the difference actually is between a squash and a
pumpkin, and we get a sneak peek into the weird and wonderful world
of giant pumpkins, where growers compete to break the two-ton
barrier with fruits the size of a compact car. Learn more about
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