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Last updated on Thursday, October 13, 2011
(UNDATED) - Growers expect a plentiful crop of jack-o’-lantern and pie pumpkins this fall; the same for gourds and squash.
Tim Tiemeyer of Tiemeyer's Farm Market and Mark Kamman of Kamman's Farm Market in Vallonia are teeming with orange, green and yellow pumpkins, gourds and squash. Kamman's also has white pumpkins in stock.
Farmers were a little worried about the hot weather in July and August with the hundred-degree days and high humidity, but that didn't hamper production too bad, says Tiemeyer.
"The pie pumpkins and gourds look real good, probably the best pie pumpkin crop I've ever had," he says. "Halloween pumpkin isn't the best crop but by far not the worst."
Tiemeyer said the color and stems on his pumpkins look bright and strong because he employed a spray program of fungicide to keep the vines healthier and it makes the fruit last longer and keeps the mildew off the stems. Consumers will not have to worry about the stems breaking and the fruit rotting.
Kamman still has watermelons and cantaloupe. "I think we'll have them through the first freeze," he says.
That's a big change from the last two summers, when wet conditions and hail hurt their watermelon and cantaloupe crops.
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