What vegetables are in the pumpkin family?

The "pumpkin family" is actually a bit of a misnomer. It refers to the squash family, scientifically known as Cucurbitaceae. This family includes a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and gourds, all sharing a common ancestor.

Here are some of the most common vegetables in the squash family:

Pumpkins: This is where the name comes from, and there are many different varieties, some edible and some mainly for decoration.

Squashes: This is a broad category that includes:

* Winter squashes: These are typically harvested in the fall and have a hard rind that can be stored for a long time. Examples include butternut, acorn, spaghetti, kabocha, and delicata squash.

* Summer squashes: These are harvested when young and have a tender skin. Examples include zucchini, yellow squash, pattypan squash, and crookneck squash.

Other vegetables in the squash family:

* Cucumbers: These are technically fruits, but they're often used as vegetables in cooking.

* Melons: This includes watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydew melons.

* Gourds: These are mainly decorative, but some varieties are edible.

So, while "pumpkin family" is a common term, it's more accurate to refer to them as the squash family or Cucurbitaceae.