Wet Summer Boosts Pumpkin Crop
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MADISON COUNTY, Tenn.–Donnell Century Farm in Madison County says their pumpkin crop is good this year. “Farming requires optimism,” Andrew Donnell said, a farmer. Pumpkins of all different shapes and sizes fill the patch at Donnell Century Farm. “This year’s crop has been a boom,” Donnell said. “It’s been awesome. There’s tons of pumpkins.” Donnell planted the pumpkins in late June and early July. “The crop this year has definitely presented some interesting challenges,” Donnell said. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of rain.” Donnell said the wet summer helped the crop. “The ideal growing conditions are two inches of rain a week,” Donnell said. The farm grew about 5,000 pumpkins this year. The number varies depending on the weather. “Two years ago we had less than a half inch of rain on our farm and so we just didn’t have many pumpkins,” Donnell said. Donnell says the pumpkins require constant attention and maintenance every week. “To do the best job you need to check on them every other day,” Donnell said. Donnell says proper pumpkin placement and plant spacing is key. “We always try to grow at least 35 different varieties,” Donnell said. Donnell Century Farm is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
