What's the difference between a gourd and a squash? It's a bit of a debate among Cucurban scholars, I would say. If you look at the last five decades, there's a lot of argument about that terminology. It's Tuesday, November 14th, and yep, it's still Science Friday.

I'm sci-fi producer Shoshana Bucksbell, and today we're talking about all things,

gourds, pumpkins, and squash, including how plant scientists are working to breed a tastier squash,

what growers look for in the perfect pumpkin,

and yes, will reveal the controversial answer to the difference between a squash and a gourd.

Ira Flato talks with a plant breeding expert who answers listeners' most pressing squash questions.

Now, you can see squash everywhere, right? In this holiday season,

you've got those carved pumpkins. They're actually squash, believe it or not. Those giant award-winning pumpkins are squash, too. How do they get so big? And what's the difference between a gourd and a

squash? And how do you breed a better squash? We actually have somebody who knows the answer

to all of those things. Dr. Chris Hernandez, assistant professor of plant breeding at the University

of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire. He's director of the University squash, pumpkin,

and melon breeding program. Welcome to Science Friday. Hi, Ira. Thanks for having me on.

How did you get interested in squash and pumpkin breeding? Yeah, I suppose it's kind of a different

type of profession. But yeah, you know, my dad was really into gardening. He got me into gardening.

And I was doing some gardening at a community garden, and there was a guy there growing giant pumpkins.

And I just thought that was the coolest thing in the world.

And it's what got me started.

Kind of motivated me to go on and study plant bringing genetics.

So I understand it in the garden.

I understand this year's world record for pumpkin was nearly 3,000 pounds.

That's right, 2,700.

How do growers get pumpkins to grow so big?

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