© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Missouri Pumpkin Patches Show Effects of Summer Weather

High summer rainfall affected many Missouri crops and pumpkins were not spared.

Many pumpkin patches throughout the state are producing fewer pumpkins this season.

“The ground conditions were wet. That caused problems in planting and also weed control,” said Hickory County agronomy specialist Terry Halleran. “As time progressed we developed different types of funguses and bacteria associated with the wet and humid hot conditions and all those things in a combination greatly cut back the quality and amount of pumpkins produced.”

One pumpkin farmer, Ben Paulsmeyer, said his pumpkin field flooded, causing him to replant his crops a month later than usual. This year Paulsmeyer only harvested 1,000 pumpkins, while he typically harvests 3,000. 

He also usually has five varieties of pumpkins.  This year he had to cut back.

“We replanted late, so I just did two varieties late. I pretty much had to do only my early seasons because I didn’t have time to do the full season pumpkins,” Paulsmeyer said.

Longfellow Garden Center brings in pumpkins and resells them, but this year, it has had a hard time finding a variety of pumpkins and gourds.

Alice Longfellow from Longfellow Garden Center said this year pumpkins are a bit smaller that last year. 

“We try not to increase the price too much,” Longfellow said. “Mostly it’s the same price, but they aren’t quite as big. If it is priced at eight dollars they were a bigger pumpkin last year.”

Halleran said some areas of the state are seeing a 50-75% price increase from last year, but most farmers are trying not to increase the price significantly.

Paulsmeyer said he expects his pumpkins' price to rise by 10 percent.

“I do a lot of whole sale and I just can’t mark it up that much,” Paulsmeyer said.

Bruce Arnett, owner of Peach Tree Farm, said his pumpkin patch is actually going against the norm and he has more than doubled the number of pumpkins compared with other seasons.

Arnett is surprised because he plants his pumpkins on high ground that is usually not desirable for the crop.

Along with pumpkins, Longfellow said there is also a decrease in the availability of straw bales many people use to decorate for fall, so she had to increase the price of those as well.

“I think a lot of people are going to be glad when the season is over,” Halleran said. “They’re going to be looking forward to next year, hoping that the weather will cooperate a little better. You just kind of have to wait and see.”