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 your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Okay, this almost sounds like a setup for a joke.
Why did this Harvard student get in.
A giant pumpkin and row down the Charles River?
A giant pumpkin floating down the Charles river?
The man inside guiding it is a Harvard University senior Benjamin Chang says it.
Has been a longtime dream of his.
To row a pumpkin across the Charles.
River, and that dream finally came true yesterday in front of cheering friends.
I have crossed the Charles river in Boston more times than I could possibly count.
Usually on the subway, occasionally on a bike or in a car.
Never in a giant pumpkin.
Yes, the official start of autumn is only a few days away, and while everyone else is satisfied with a few decorative gourds, Cynthia and I now want a giant pumpkin boat.
And since we can't have that maybe a gastropod episode on pumpkins.
And we are indeed gastropod, the podcast that looks at food through the lens of science and history.
I'm Cynthia Graeber.
And I'm Nicola Twilley.
And this episode is all about pumpkins.
Or should I say squash?
Or both?
Or is there even actually a difference?