Pumpkin Filed Walk

Pumpkin production is on the increase in South Central Kentucky and Allen County ranks #1 in the state for vegetable and melon production, therefore we have a lot of growers in our county and many of them are pumpkin growers. The current demand of locally grown agriculture products, and the booming agritourism industry have opened a market for locally grown pumpkins.  Pumpkins, as with all cucurbits, present unique challenges during the heat and humidity of Kentucky’s growing season.  The weather-related challenges and the lack of current production recommendations led West 8 Agriculture Agents to bring this twilight pumpkin field walk to South Central Kentucky.

South Central Kentucky is home of several pumpkin growers with multiple years of experience, including Metcalfe Co ANR agent, Brandon Bell. He is a grower with almost 30 years of experience.  When coupling this experience with the resources of the Extension Service, growers have a great mentor in agent Brandon Bell.   Micah and Kori Thomas, owners of Peach tree Farm & Greenhouse are relatively new pumpkins growers, but they were willing to host the twilight pumpkin field walk at their new agritourism venue, in Allen County.  Prior to the participants arriving production equipment was staged near the fields and samples of plants were collected to be used for demonstration and teaching field scouting.

The target audience for this program was growers with less than five years of experience or potential growers looking to get into pumpkin production. Several members of the Amish community in Hart Count were in attendance as well. Traditionally that particular group of Amish use plasticulture, however, they were interested in learning about direct seeding into bare earth.   Other participants were there to hear about the production of the crop from seeding through harvest.

Program evaluation was done using paper survey and informal exit interviews.

At least one or more participants stated the following: they will use improved seed varieties to help with disease management, they will increase the volume of water applied per acre when applying fungicides, they will be adding a systemic fungicide in the late season spray program, and they now will be able to scout fields better because they know what plectosporium blight looks like. Based on responses to the survey 3 participants were first time Extension program attendees, nearly 80 acres of pumpkins were grown by participant and 3 participants state this program will add to or save their operation over $500.00

We ended the program by serving participants pumpkin muffins that were prepared by Metcalfe County SNAP Nutrition Assistant, Ronda Harris-Page. These muffins were prepared using a SNAP approved recipe and participants were given SNAP recipe. The Thomas family also provided the participants with a tour of their operation and an apple cider slushie.