Pumpkin



A Pumpkin is an uncommon block that appears on grass in a similar manner to mushrooms but does not spread. They are found most commonly in forest biomes, but can also appear in sandy and snow covered areas, albeit rarely. They can appear in swamp biomes in 1.8. They are found alone or in groups of up to 25.

Pumpkins can currently only be found with a carved face. It was originally stated by Notch that they were to be found and then subsequently carved by crafting. Instead, pumpkins can be crafted into Jack-O-Lanterns (see below). Jeb has stated that pumpkins may eventually spawn uncarved.

Harvested pumpkins can be equipped as a helmet without any actual armor value. It is unique in that it limits the player's view of the world as if it were seen from inside the pumpkin. The pumpkin helmet can be removed and placed into the player's inventory. When worn as a helmet, the player may look directly at Endermen with no consequences.

Pumpkins cannot be placed without a block under them. However, you can place them and remove the block directly beneath and it will remain in place. This reveals that the bottom texture is the same as the top. When placed, pumpkins automatically face the player.

From Beta 1.2, pumpkin helmets appeared as if worn backwards. Despite the incorrect texture, they appeared to be facing the right way from the player's perspective. Similarly, pumpkins appeared flipped in the inventory. This was fixed in Beta 1.5_01.

Future
It is confirmed by Notch that you will be able to grow Pumpkins, in the same manner of the Melon. Pumpkins will have a central stem that slowly grows until it reaches its maximum size, at which point the pumpkin will randomly spawn a fruit next to it if there isn't one already there.

In the 1.8 pre-release it is possible to farm these pumpkins but seeds are only found in Abandoned Mine Shafts, which makes them very hard to find.