Craving and Carving

From the garden to the kitchen and out to the front porch, pumpkins usher in all the cozy fall feelings.

Written by Staci Perry Mergenthal

THERE’S NOTHING MORE ICONIC to the month of October than pumpkins. Beyond front porches adorned with flickering jack-o’-lanterns and tapering towers of pastel Cinderella pumpkins, there’s the annual trip to the pumpkin patch, the warming scent of pumpkin bread in the oven, simmering pumpkin sage soup on the stovetop, fall festival seed spitting contests and the beloved—and controversial!—pumpkin spice latte.

To learn the pumpkin basics, we turned to third-generation farmer Brian Schiltgen of Schiltgen Farms in Afton. He and his wife, Amy, are raising their children and fourth generation farmers, Maverick, Brock and Mabel, on the family farm started in 1950 by Schiltgen’s grandparents Richard and the late Kathryn Schiltgen.

While Schiltgen’s uncle, Ron, runs the grain, corn and soybean operations, Schiltgen manages the vegetable side, growing more than 60 varieties of pumpkins, 10 varieties of squash, gourds, mums, straw and flint corn. Continuing and expanding Kathryn’s tradition of selling roadside pumpkins and fall decorations, the farm is open mid-July through October, with Grandma Jo’s (Amy’s grandmother) famous dill pickles selling out quickly. GROWING More varied than an artist’s palette, pumpkins come in a wide range of colors, sizes, textures and stem formations. Plant according to your edible and ornamental needs.

• Plan your planting schedule based on the variety’s maturation days, anywhere from 75 to 125 days. • Plant in full sunshine. • Follow seed instructions for spacing between plants and rows, leaving room to stretch and grow. Vining habits span from full and short vine to more compact semi bush and full bush. • Water from the ground, not overhead, to prevent powdery mildew, fungus and black leaf rot. Pumpkins are heattolerant without daily watering. • The first flowers to grow are male.

“Some people get discouraged

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Courtesy of Brian Schiltgen

Extract pumpkin seeds. Wash with water using a colander. Dry on paper towels. Place seeds on a baking sheet. Generously toss with olive or avocado oil. Sprinkle a light dusting of Lawry’s Seasoned Salt. Toss to coat. (For variations, use garlic or onion salt, cinnamon and sugar, or black, cayenne or lemon pepper.) Bake at 350 degrees F for 12–15 minutes or until brown and crunchy, stirring every couple of minutes to ensure they are evenly roasted on both sides. Cool. Store in an airtight container.

because they see a bunch of flowers but don’t see pumpkins starting to form,” Schiltgen says. “Eventually, the pumpkin will produce female flowers with tiny bulbs that will produce pumpkins if pollinated successfully.” • Harvest when the stem is no longer green and has a cork-like look and dark color. The shell should be rock hard.

CARE AND STORAGE Not only do kids want to display their carved masterpieces through Halloween, we want our outdoor decorative pumpkins to greet passersby into November. We asked Schiltgen how to prolong the life of pumpkins—for aesthetic and culinary purposes.

Undamaged pumpkins can last up to three months if stored properly. “People will buy multiple bushels of squash [and pumpkins] for culinary purposes,” says Schiltgen. He’s even known people to use white pumpkins for Christmas decorating.

• Avoid freezing temperatures. • Wipe with water before storing. • Store single layers in a dry aerated area. • For decorative and carving pumpkins, wash (including stems) with 10 parts water to one part bleach to kill off any fungus. Dry. • Place on cardboard or wood board.

“Concrete is usually colder than the ambient air temperature, and the pumpkin will get cold from the bottom and will typically rot from the

bottom,” says Schiltgen. • Keep stems intact to protect from rotting. IN THE KITCHEN Pumpkins aren’t just for looks. It is a healthy, versatile and flavorful ingredient, making it popular in sweet and savory dishes from home bakers to five-star chefs.

For cooking (soups, pasta, roasted side dishes, gnocchi and gratin) and baking (cake, cookies, bread and pie), Schiltgen suggests a few pumpkin varieties for the best texture and flavor: cannonball, picka-pie, sugar pie and Long Island cheese, and Schiltgen’s favorite …

“Fairytale—an heirloom variety. It’s a squatty Cinderella shape with pronounced ribbing that matures into a brown buckskin color,” he says. “It’s hard to find, so culinary chefs come from around the Twin Cities for that pumpkin because they know I grow them.”

As pumpkins are packed with vitamin A, potassium, iron, beta carotene, alpha carotene and lutein, maybe a healthy dose of pumpkin pie is actually good for us.

We were surprised to learn that many culinary professionals prefer squash versus pumpkin because it is typically sweeter with a buttery smooth texture. Chefs come to Schiltgen for multiple butternut squash varieties, including cream of the crop, New England cheddar, sunshine (a kabocha squash) and acorn.

Schiltgen says white pumpkins and standard jack-o’-lanterns are not conducive to baking. PRESERVING Freezing pumpkin flesh or puree is the safest and easiest method for preserving pumpkin. The United States Department of Agriculture does not recommend canning mashed or pureed pumpkin. TREATS FOR FIDO AND FRIDA Pass the pumpkin to your beloved canines. The fiber-rich nutrients are beneficial for dogs, aiding in digestion, supporting eye health and contributing to a shinier coat. (Do not use canned pumpkin pie mix as it may contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.) For Kowalski’s Markets culinary and brand director Rachael Perron’s Stella Snacks recipe go to stcroixvalleymag.com. PUMPKIN SEEDS Also known as pepitas, raw pumpkin seeds are low in carbohydrates, packed with magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc and copper, and are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammation alpha-linolenic acid. Enjoy the superfood as a crispy snack, toss on soups, salads and pancakes, add to granola and peanut butter cookie recipes, or combine with sugar and sprinkle on muffins before baking.

Schiltgen Farms, Manning Ave. S. at 30th St. S., Afton; 651.503.5629; schiltgenfarms.com Schiltgen Farms @schiltgenfarms @schiltgenfarms