CMV
Platinum Member
So we got a conditional (temporary) farm exemption. Here in NC, that's good for 3 yrs, but then you have to show $10k in farm income and get a permanent one - the conditional expires after 3 yrs and you can't get another. Was joking with the wife when it arrived that will have to get whatever we think we want in next 3 yrs because there's no way we're going to generate $10k farm income.
She took that as a challenge and said "That's ONLY 2,000 pumpkins. If I grow 2,000 pumpkins and sell them for $5 each at the farmer's market, that's $10k." And she sort of latched on to that idea - asking me where on our land she can start planting pumpkins, how many at once would fit in the truck or on the trailer, etc.
I didn't want to poo poo on it, but have a gut feel that 7 AC (not all cleared) isn't going to support that insane amount of pumpkin growing. And even if it did, 15-20 tons of pumpkins just seems like insanity. Anyway....I'm apparently going to be putting a bunch of pumpkins in the ground.....
I know 0 about growing pumpkins. Just till up some land, transplant seedlings into small mounds like I'd do any other kind of garden squash, and then just let em go? I have no delusion that we will grow 2,000 pumpkins. I would not be surprised if net result this fall is one pumpkin that ends up as our jack-o-lantern. But since I'm apparently going to have to put some time into this project, may as well try to make it work. Help me get started please!!!!
Ground is all Carolina red clay with no/very poor top soil. Very rocky. It's all recreational land and potential buyer when I was looking at it couldn't get it to perk. No utilities either....I already have small garden patch and just water by hand from IBC totes and 30 gal plastic barrels. So I guess I need to know (1) what variety of decorative pumpkin is hearty/easy to grow? (2) Where do I get bulk seeds cheap? (3) What kind of soil do they like - what is easiest (meaning maybe not best, but not difficult, not expensive) way to condition soil to make pumpkins happy?
She took that as a challenge and said "That's ONLY 2,000 pumpkins. If I grow 2,000 pumpkins and sell them for $5 each at the farmer's market, that's $10k." And she sort of latched on to that idea - asking me where on our land she can start planting pumpkins, how many at once would fit in the truck or on the trailer, etc.
I didn't want to poo poo on it, but have a gut feel that 7 AC (not all cleared) isn't going to support that insane amount of pumpkin growing. And even if it did, 15-20 tons of pumpkins just seems like insanity. Anyway....I'm apparently going to be putting a bunch of pumpkins in the ground.....
I know 0 about growing pumpkins. Just till up some land, transplant seedlings into small mounds like I'd do any other kind of garden squash, and then just let em go? I have no delusion that we will grow 2,000 pumpkins. I would not be surprised if net result this fall is one pumpkin that ends up as our jack-o-lantern. But since I'm apparently going to have to put some time into this project, may as well try to make it work. Help me get started please!!!!
Ground is all Carolina red clay with no/very poor top soil. Very rocky. It's all recreational land and potential buyer when I was looking at it couldn't get it to perk. No utilities either....I already have small garden patch and just water by hand from IBC totes and 30 gal plastic barrels. So I guess I need to know (1) what variety of decorative pumpkin is hearty/easy to grow? (2) Where do I get bulk seeds cheap? (3) What kind of soil do they like - what is easiest (meaning maybe not best, but not difficult, not expensive) way to condition soil to make pumpkins happy?
