How was this year’s pumpkin season

By Lauren O’Brien

Farmers in Windsor-Essex say 2018 has been a good and warm season for growing pumpkins.

The weather plays the biggest role in growing successful pumpkins, according to Greg Rocheleau, co-owner of Pepe’s Pumpkin Patch. They have been growing ornamental pumpkins for the past 10 years. He said optimal weather is a good mixture between wet and dry.

“The weather’s been really good this spring and summer,” said Rocheleau. “Our property has higher ground in some areas so if there is a forecast that it is going to be a wet year, we can plant them on the higher ground.”

Thiessen Apple Orchards in Leamington, Ont started growing pumpkins six years ago. They grow multiple varieties of pumpkins including ornamental, stacking and pie pumpkins. Owner Krissy Thiessen said they began growing pumpkins with hopes to extend their season.

“We started with a haunted barn and decided to add a pumpkin patch because people were looking for more things to do. Apple season typically ends after Thanksgiving, but this year it was different. We had apples right to the end,” said Thiessen.

Thiessen said this year some of their pumpkins rotted before they could be sold due to higher temperatures than usual. Another culprit in crop loss is animals eating the seeds and overgrown weeds.

Lesley Labbe, owner of Our Farm Organics in Cottam, Ont, said they had a good season because they recently built onto their weeding techniques and ground cover. They primarily grow food pumpkins such as pie pumpkins and New England long pie pumpkins.

“So we didn’t have to do any weeding at all this year. Essentially, we have a huge 14 foot-length ground cover we poked holes in,” said Labbe. “Irrigation helped as well. The weather was pretty good with steady rains throughout the season.”

With a growing season of 100 days, pumpkins are planted around late May and harvested through September and October.