Pennsylvania has the largest number of individual pumpkin farms
MONONGAHELA, Pa. (KDKA) - Pumpkins are one of the most popular things when it comes to the fall season.
In fact, Pennsylvania is the second largest producer of pumpkins and has the largest number of individual pumpkin farms of any state in the country. It's safe to say that it's one of our local farmers' most important crops.
They say there are a few things that make a good pumpkin, like proper moisture and not too many hot days, which makes our climate one of the most suitable for pumpkin growing.
Bill Beinlich, one of the farmers at Triple B Farms, says the good pumpkins are bright orange color for a standard type of jack-o'-lantern pumpkin. Pumpkins that feel heavy for their size are generally good. If they feel like they're very light and thin-skinned, they tend to rot faster.
Usually our local farmers start planting pumpkin seeds in June and hope for the best. This year, the summer started off dry, but more rain arrived by August, and the local pumpkin crop was able to come back to life before harvesting in the fall.
"Overall the pumpkins were good," Beinlich says. "The earlier planted ones did a little bit poorer. Overall the later planted ones were better just because of the drier summer."
Jason Renshaw, one of the owners of Renshaw Farms, says it's tough when there's a dry spell because it can cause some of the plants to wither. But on average, local farmers say we tend to have decent pumpkin growing seasons here.
Beinlich told KDKA, "I'd say in the last 10 years, two years were bad or very bad. The rest were pretty good."
However, there are always going to be challenges.
"High wind days may push the plants a little bit but I think the weather that we have here is a good climate for the pumpkins," Renshaw says.
But farmers say seeing the smiles on people's faces when they pick that perfect pumpkin makes all the hard work worth it.
"You can buy one elsewhere or anywhere but it's the experience of coming out and going to the field picking one out that they like themselves," Renshaw says.
The pumpkin season typically ends mid-November for our region. So whether you put it out on the porch, carve out a design, or make some tasty pies or breads with it, support your local farmers who make it all possible!
