Pompions

Pompions, or pumpeons, is one of the old terms used to describe pumpkins. Pumpkins, which are the largest variety of the cucumber family, have been eaten for hundreds of years, and they were grown in colonial America. Pumpkins have also been grown by North and South American natives — with some varieties, for thousands of years.

Today, some of the varieties of pumpkins are referred to as squash, though, and they are, indeed, varieties of winter squash. The squashes, pumpkins and gourds are all members of the Cucurbitaceae family with over 800 species in more than 100 genera.

Pumpkins actually come in many different sizes and shapes. The most common heirloom varieties of pumpkins are Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima species.

The Herball, written in 1597, included three types of pompions, or pumpkins:  “The great long Pompion, the great round Pompion and the great flat bottommed Pompion.”

Cucurbita pepo:  This was one of the first new world crops domesticated by the native population and is the most diverse of all species of Cucurbita.

The species name is from the Latin word pepo meaning an enlarged fruit. Within the C. pepo group are the common Field Pumpkin, Acorn squash, Scalloped, or Patty Pan squash, Delicata squash, Yellow Crookneck squash, Zucchini, and ornamental gourds.

Cucurbita moschata: Prior to European contact, this species was distributed from northern South America, to southern North America. Winter, or Canada Crookneck squash, Butternut squash, Golden Cushaw, and the Cheese Pumpkin are included in this group.

Cucurbita maxima: Pumpkins of this group are the world’s largest fruit. The earliest known domestication of C. maxima comes from Peru from about 1800 BC. Giant pumpkins, Buttercup squash, Banana squash, Hubbard squash and Turban squashes are found in this group.

There is also Cucubita argyrosperma, (formerly C. mixta): Pumpkins from this species were cultivated in southern Mexico more than 7,000 years ago. The Striped Cushaw and Tennessee Sweet Potato squash are included in this group.

“Cucurbita pepo and maxima reached Europe within 30 years after European contact. Pumpkins, acorns (winter squash) and scallops (summer squash) were being grown throughout Europe by the mid 16th century. Crooknecks did not appear in Europe until late in the 18th or early 19th century. Cushaw (C. argyrosperma) was known in the American south but remained uncommon in Europe. The cheese pumpkin (C. moschata) may have been an early introduction to Europe but was certainly present by the late 17th century (Evolution of Crop Plants, Smartt and Simmonds, 1995).”

Some of the information in this post is from an article produced by Colonial Williamsburg. To learn more on pumpkins and squash, refer to Cucurbits.