<P> Pumpkins are grown all around the world for a variety of reasons ranging from agricultural purposes (such as animal feed) to commercial and ornamental sales . Of the seven continents, only Antarctica is unable to produce pumpkins; the biggest international producers of pumpkins include the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, and China . The traditional American pumpkin used for jack - o - lanterns is the Connecticut Field variety . </P> <P> As one of the most popular crops in the United States, 680,000,000 kilograms (1.5 billion pounds) of pumpkins are produced each year . The top pumpkin - producing states include Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California . </P> <P> According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, 95% of the U.S. crop intended for processing is grown in Illinois . Nestlé, operating under the brand name Libby's, produces 85% of the processed pumpkin in the United States, at their plant in Morton, Illinois . In the fall of 2009, rain in Illinois devastated the Nestlé crop, resulting in a shortage affecting the entire country during the Thanksgiving holiday season . </P> <P> Pumpkins are a warm - weather crop that is usually planted in early July . The specific conditions necessary for growing pumpkins require that soil temperatures 8 centimetres (3 in) deep are at least 15.5 ° C (60 ° F) and soil that holds water well . Pumpkin crops may suffer if there is a lack of water or because of cold temperatures (in this case, below 18 ° C or 65 ° F; frost can be detrimental), and sandy soil with poor water retention or poorly drained soils that become waterlogged after heavy rain . Pumpkins are, however, rather hardy, and even if many leaves and portions of the vine are removed or damaged, the plant can very quickly re-grow secondary vines to replace what was removed . </P>

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