Pumpkins are unpredictable. Okay, at least *I* can’t predict them. We’ve bought fall pumpkins over the years to add color to our backyard after the leaves are all gone. We have had:
* a medium-size pumpkin that went from firm to puréed strength in less than a month;
* a large pumpkin that refused to rot, and was more of a dried gourd by February (this was after being exposed to full winter conditions for more than four months);
* pumpkins that were delicious (based on bite patterns);
* pumpkins that tasted awful (bite taken and then spat out);
* pumpkins that bleach away from bright orange to sickly yellow in winter sun;
* pumpkins that stay bright yellow-green until it’s time for spring cleanup.
I suspect people who know better would look at our purchases and go, “Yeah, sorry, whatever the sign at the market said, that is NOT a pumpkin.” For us, it gives us something to observe during the winter months.