RADIO TRANSCRIPT
Agent:  Donna Teasley
Date:  November 10, 2021

Hello, this is Donna Teasley, Horticulture Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burke Center.

With the holidays fast approaching, there are folks out there who are making plans for pumpkin pies. Canned pumpkin is readily available but for a real treat, try a fresh pumpkin for your holiday pies.

But there are some rules to follow. Not all pumpkins are suitable for pies. If you end up with the wrong type of pumpkin your pie could turn out to be a watery mess! Pie pumpkins should be relatively small-4 to 8 pounds. They have dense flesh and a high sugar content. You should ask for a pie pumpkin or a sugar pumpkin. Pie pumpkins tend to have a thicker skin and more flesh on the inside than a carving pumpkin. The color is generally darker but not always.

There are many pie pumpkins that are available for your baking needs. Names such as New England Pie Pumpkin, Baby Pam and Autumn Gold are just a few of the great pie pumpkins. Some pumpkins are suitable for both carving and eating such as Connecticut Field, Spirit and Winter Luxury. If you shop at a pumpkin patch or a farm market you should be able to ask for a pie pumpkin.

So, if pumpkin pie is your thing, go out and buy a pumpkin for your pies. A real homemade-from-scratch pumpkin pie is truly something to be grateful for!

This is Donna Teasley with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burke Center. If you would like more information about this program you can call us at 764-9480.