Pumpkin
By: Emily Taylor
Varieties of Pumpins
Pumpkins
Pumpkins growing and still connected to vines
Growing Season and Care
Pumpkins generally have a long growing season and are to be planted by June or July in southern states, requiring 75 to 100 frost-free days. In order to plant, the temperature must be at least 70 degrees but the ideal temperature is 95 degrees. Pumpkins also need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight and are usually grown in places with limited shade and dry conditions.
GMO Definition:
A GMO is a genetically-modified organism whose genetic material, DNA, has been altered using genetic engineering. The main uses for this type of science is to preserve vegetables and to prevent them from contracting diseases common to their organic counterparts. As for pumpkins, there are no GMOs used to modify their DNA because they don't rot as quickly as other vegetables do.
The Difference Between a GMO Pumpkin and an Organic Pumpkin
Due to the fact that pumpkins are not typically genetically-modified, there is not much evidence to describe the difference between a GMO or organic pumpkin. However, when pumpkins are used for cooking purposes, genetically modified sugar beets are used to sweeten the recipe.
Works Cited:
Bardzik, Jonathan. "Taking A Fresh Look At GMOs." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 25 Oct. 2016. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
Staff, Almanac. "Pumpkins." Old Farmer's Almanac. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
Staff, Gardening Blog. "How to Grow Pumpkins." How to Grow Pumpkins | Backyard Gardening Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.