The Connecticut Field Pumpkin is a very old heirloom variety of pumpkin reportedly grown by the Native Americans prior to settlement by Europeans. Plants produce excellent yields of somewhat flattened, bright orange pumpkins averaging 15 to 20 pounds each. Although typically grown for decorations and carving into Jack-O-Lanterns, Connecticut Field Pumpkin has a thick, sweet flesh that is great for baking, cooking, and frying. It also makes a great feed for chickens, pigs, and other livestock. In the old days, growing field pumpkins in cornfields was a common practice, especially in the south. Often planted at the same time as the corn, the vines were allowed to ramble amongst the towering corn plants, which provided shade during the heat of summer. Come fall, the pumpkins would be harvested and stored in the shuck pen, buried beneath the shucks to prevent them from freezing. The field pumpkin gets a mention in the 4th book of the Foxfire series, with the following lighthearted story from Ms. Florence Brooks: "We had an old mule that got scared of a pumpkin vine one time, an' tore down 'bout half a field of corn! We raised some great big'uns, an' we ate'em in pies, and cooked and fried in grease." No doubt, field pumpkins were an important staple for many generations of Americans. We're glad this important heirloom remains so well-loved today. 110 days to maturity. Each packet contains a minimum of 25 seeds.
