Swan’s Pumpkin Farm Frequently Asked Questions Do you have wagons that people can use while visiting your farm? We have wheelbarrows available to carry purchases. The are available near the main entrance and we ask to hold your driver’s license until you return the wheelbarrow. Do you sell seeds? We do not sell pumpkin seeds for planting in your garden.  Why are pumpkins different sizes and shapes? Pumpkins grow in many different shapes for a variety of reasons. Weather is one factor, since pumpkins were originally grown in northern climates those are the ones we recognize as “traditional.” As pumpkins moved with the settlers to different climates throughout the United States, different species had to be developed depending on the climate. Humans have had the most impact as we save and plant seeds from only the heartiest, or the smallest, or the sweetest pumpkins, depending on what kind of pumpkin they were looking for. Why do some pumpkins grow to be very large? Many growers cross-pollinate different varieties of pumpkins to create new ones. All “Giant” pumpkins grown today evolved from seeds developed by William Warnock around the turn of the century. He grew the very first record-breaking pumpkin in 1893. It weighed 365 pounds. How can I determine if the pumpkins my family grew are ripe? Pumpkins should be harvested before the first hard frost, which kills the vines and ruins pumpkins for storage. When pumpkins are mature, their vines and leaves shrivel, turn brown and die back. Fruits turn from yellow to bright orange, and rinds harden. How do I cook pumpkins? Smaller, pie pumpkin varieties such as the New England Sugar or Baby Pam are good to use for cooking because they have a sweeter flavor. Choose a pumpkin that is heavy for its size (about 3-5 pounds), has a hard rind, and is free of blemishes or bruises. A 3½ lb. pumpkin yields approximately 1 cup of pumpkin puree. You can bake, boil, steam, or pressure-cook fresh pumpkin. Microwave: On high, 7 minutes per