Is a pumpkin a vegetable?

A pumpkin is not a vegetable. In fact, a pumpkin is a fruit; a berry, to be exact. The pumpkin belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. Many fruits in this family are heavily seeded berries with tough rinds: melons, squash, gourds, cucumbers, etc.

The pumpkin has long tendrils and leaves and grows quite fast. There are different species of pumpkin. The orange pumpkin is traditional for Halloween and easily recognized by its ribbed rind, used for carving and baking.

Pumpkins are a great source of potassium as well as vitamins A and C. Pumpkins also contain vitamin B-6, calcium, iron and magnesium.