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Schiltgen Farms shares pumpkin growing tips, plus pumpkin-flavored recipes from Lunds & Byerlys.
There’s nothing more iconic to the month of October than pumpkins. Beyond front porches adorned with flickering carved 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 and 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, with sweet corn picked daily in the summer and continuing into the fall growing more than 60 varieties of pumpkins, 10 varieties of squash, gourds, mums, straw and Indian 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 and diversity of color, size, texture and stem formation. 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 in-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 heat-tolerant without daily watering.
- The first flowers to grow are male. “Some people get discouraged 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, gratin) and baking (cake, cookies, bread and pie), Schiltgen suggests a few pumpkin varieties for the best texture and flavor: Cannonball, Pick-A-Pie, Sugar Pie and Long Island Cheese, and Schiltgen’s favorite …
“Fairy Tale—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 Thanksgiving pie is actually good for us.
Pexels/Richa Singh
We were surprised to learn that many culinary professionals prefer squash versus pumpkin because it is typically sweeter with a buttery smooth texture. A few varieties chefs come to Schiltgen for are butternut squash like Cream of the Crop, New England Cheddar, Sunshine (a kabocha squash), buttercup 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 (USDA) does not recommend canning mashed or pureed pumpkin.
Treats for Fido and Stella
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 Market culinary and brand director Rachael Perron’s Stella Snacks recipe go to woodburymag.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 (ALA). 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.
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 on top. 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 evenly roasted on both sides. Cool. Store in an airtight container.
Spiced Black Futsu Pumpkin with Black Garlic
Courtesy of Lunds & Byerlys
- 1 each Black Futsu pumpkin (typically available at Lunds & Byerlys early October through early December)
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. garam masala
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 6 cloves black garlic, peeled and mashed
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- sea salt & black pepper
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut off the stem and bottom ends of the pumpkin. Slice the pumpkin in half along segment lines. Continue to cut pumpkin into sections following segment lines. Use a paring knife to cut away seeds and stringy bits from each section. Pour olive oil into a 9×13 glass baking dish and lay in the pumpkin sections. Turn the sections over to coat the other sides. Season with garam masala, brown sugar, salt and pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil, turn the pumpkin sections over in the pan. Spread the black garlic over the pumpkin and continue baking, uncovered, for 25 more minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and check doneness with a fork or knife. Add butter to the pan and stir until melted and incorporated with the residual oils. Turn the pumpkin to coat. Serve.
Fun fact: Pumpkins belong to the genus Cucurbita along with squash and gourds and are considered a fruit.
Baked Pumpkin with Quinoa
Courtesy of Lunds & Byerlys
- 1 each pie-sized pumpkin
- ½ lb. chorizo sausage, bulk
- ½ cup green onions, sliced
- 2 Tbsp. olive or avocado oil
- 1 package quick cook Spanish style quinoa, brown rice and red beans blend
- sea salt and ground black pepper
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut the pumpkin in half, widthwise. Remove the seeds and stringy bits with a metal spoon. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Drizzle or brush the cut sides of the pumpkin with olive or avocado oil, season with sea salt and ground black pepper. Place the pumpkin, cut sides down, on the paper-lined sheet pan and place in the oven to bake for 30 minutes. While the pumpkin is baking, cook the chorizo sausage in a saute pan or skillet over medium high heat until fully cooked and uniformly brown. Add sliced green onion, reserving a tablespoon to add as garnish when serving. Turn off the heat to the pan and cover with a lid or foil to keep warm. Follow package directions to heat the quick cook Spanish style quinoa brown rice and red beans blend, then stir together with the chorizo and green onions. If after 30 minutes, the pumpkin is not fork-tender, turn them all cut side up on the sheet pan and fill with the chorizo and rice mixture. Loosely cover with foil and return them to the oven, cooking for up to 30 minutes more.
Schiltgen Farms
Manning Ave. S. at 30th St. S., Afton; 651.503.5629
Facebook: Schiltgen Farms
Instagram: @schiltgenfarms
Lunds & Byerlys
7050 Valley Creek Plaza; 651.999.1200
Facebook: Lunds & Byerlys
Instagram: @lundsandbyerlys
