Because of this, pumpkin acreage has expanded greatly in recent years and competition in the pumpkin market is increasing. Around 1. Botany: Pumpkins are a member of the cucurbitaceae family, which also includes squash, cantaloupes, cucumbers, watermelons, and gourds. Individual plants produce both male and female flowers. Fruit shape, size, and appearance smooth or ribbed vary, ranging from small less than 5 pounds to medium pounds , and large typically pounds.
Pumpkins originated in America. When pumpkins are shipped to the wholesale market, they are shipped in bulk bins or stacked loose in trailers. In wholesale marketing, either you or a shipper can take your crop to the market. Shippers generally sell and transport pumpkins for a predetermined price. Wholesale marketing is subject to the most price fluctuations. Marketing cooperatives generally use a daily pooled cost and price, which spreads price fluctuations over all participating producers.
Local retailers are another possible market, but you must take the time to contact produce managers and provide high-quality pumpkins when stores require them. Roadside stands either your own or another grower's and pick-your-own operations provide opportunities to receive higher than wholesale prices for your pumpkins, but you may have some additional expenses for advertising, building and maintaining a facility, maintaining liability insurance and providing service to your customers.
With pick-your-own operations, you save on harvest costs, but you must also be willing to accept some waste. Depending on your location, processors may or may not be a marketing option. Processors are less likely to contract with small-acreage growers. Pumpkins grow best on soils that hold water well and have good air and water filtration.
If you grow pumpkins on sandy soil, irrigation is important to ensure optimum plant growth, uniform fruit set, and robust development. Soil should have a pH of 5. Pumpkins require a constant supply of moisture during the growing season.
Enrich your garden soil over the entire patch, so secondary roots can feed and nurture your plants and fruit. Soil Conditions, Amendments and Mulch — Pumpkin plants need a loose, loamy soil to hold lots of water. The soil in pumpkin patches needs to be as fertile as you can make it. Adding Fertilizers and Micro-nutrients — In the spring before planting time, add a general purpose fertilizer that is high in nitrogen and has a broad spectrum of micro-nutrients.
Work it into the soil. Seed Trays. Clothing — Fashions. Soil Testers. Electronic Best Sellers. Live Plants. We raise a broad range of products including alfalfa, pinto beans, sugar beets, corn, and wheat.
All of the produce is sold locally during harvest. We take pride in what we do but wanted to somehow give the local community the 'farm experience. All pumpkins are grown on site and are never outsourced. What is grown is what you get Melvin Martin has been farming since Loren Martin has been farming since Alfalfa is cut and baled, turning it into livestock feed. We typically get four cuts of hay during the year, all sold to local families to feed their livestock.
We raise two varieties: pinto beans and yellow beans. Both are used for human consumption such as refried beans, soup mixes, canned beans. Raised, harvested, and taken to local grain elevator to be converted into livestock feed.
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