Hey Itsmecindi, and others....

[BWa]

It has been a tough year for pumkin, this is the last load out of my small patch , only 3 , 1000lb loads down from last years 11,000lbs........ /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Bill G. the wannabe farmer

 

[Docsknotinn]

Sorry to hear about the great pumpkin shortage. Just a Dry year ? Dave

 

[Mrwurm]

Not too knowledgable on this subject, so pardon my silly question. Out where I live, they sell lots of pumpkins to city-slickers out for an afternoon drive, but I wonder if the farmers actually make any money off this venture. Seems like, the day after halloween, they plow about 75% of the crop back into the ground. Any thoughts ?

 

[Docsknotinn]

Jerry, It always seemed to me that pumpkins must be profitable even with all the ones they turn under. All the stands along M-53 get around 20 cents a # ! I was in Romeo a couple of years ago and the Giant ones were over a $100...WOW /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Dave

 

[itsmecindi]

I haven't grown any pumpkins, although I threaten to every year. I think it depends on what variety you grow and what your local market will support. For example no one around here grows the meat variety. There are some pumpkins that are ideal for pumpkin pie, etc, but they don't get as big as the ones you would sell for jack-o-lanterns, which don't have a very good meat to them. They are just basically gourds.

So, even your little pickup load there is more than I've been able to accomplish as I never got past the 'thinking about it' stage. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

Remember the old days when we used a strong tablespoon to dig the meat out of a pumpkin that we were then going to use for a jack-o-lantern? Didn't want to waste the meat. And then we also sometimes cut up a pumpkin, then cut the rind, or peel, off before cooking the meat. Either way was a lot of work to get the makin's for pumpkin pies. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif And then someone told my wife the easy way. I'd chop them up into slices with the machete or a big butcher knife, she'd cook them, peeling and all, a short time in the microwave oven, and then the peeling would slide off very easily. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I planted a few pumpkins every year, and we had a few pies, but they actually never did very well for me.

 

[MossRoad]

Ever have pumpkin soup? You need a green pumpkin. It's pretty good. My wife's grandma makes it once in a while.

 

[Bird]

I've heard of pumpkin soup, of course, but never tried any.

 

[BWa]

You are right about the market and what it will bear, ...start with a little town called Salem ,,,, and other New England history and legends for halloween . You easlily end up with 40 cent a pound , or higher ,,, You are looking at an avenge of $40.00 + for most of those in the truck , that load totaled out at 1180 lbs . Again due to wet weather and unable to plant my full patch , it was not the best year ,,, but still it could be worst ..
Bill G.

 

[Docsknotinn]

Bill, do you do any of the pumpkins where you etch deseigns in them while they are growing, like burning witches at the stake or the headless horseman ? Those and whites are bringing nice premiums here. Bundles of corn husk are getting pricy as well if they have nice tossleing tops /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Halloween is my favorite holiday. Dave