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The great pumpkins
By Julie Becker
Daily News staff writer
Quality crops found in Stateline Area, despite summer floods and droughts
Halloween lovers, here's a reason to celebrate - pumpkins are still aplenty in the Stateline Area, according to local farmers.
Despite less than ideal growing conditions caused by droughts and flooding throughout Wisconsin this summer, and a statewide crop that Central Wisconsin Pumpkin Growers President Dan Bowles has described as blighted at best, Rock County pumpkin patches aren't feeling the effects too badly.
In fact, most say they have just as many quality pumpkins, if not more, than they would in a typical season.
“Our quantity is down pretty good from previous years, but what's there is good-sized because of all the rain. We were pretty fortunate - we planted extra this year and, with the amount that have gone bad, we still have quite a bit that made it,” said Joe Skelly, co-owner of Skelly's Farm Market in Janesville.
“I must be in a pretty good area, because my pumpkins are real good,” agreed Roger Hermanson, owner of Hermanson Pumpkin Patch in Edgerton.
And they're not just any old pumpkins, either. With 32 varieties, including everything from pie pumpkins to those boasting shades of red, white, pink and green, it's no surprise the pumpkins are being snatched up at an alarming rate, Hermanson added.
“Usually it's the first two weekends in October when people really start thinking of buying a corn shock and buying some pumpkins to decorate the house,” he said. “Last weekend we were busy, but I think this weekend will be busier because the weather is more fall-ish.”
Skelly agreed that it's best to hit the pumpkin patch as soon as possible with the way business has been going so far this season.
“Ever since the end of September, we've been busy - people seem to be ready earlier and earlier every year,” he said.
“The demand doesn't go down at all (from year to year). It's one of those things I feel is passed on from generation to generation, carving pumpkins for Halloween. Families always come out looking for good pumpkins for the kids,” he added. “I guess they feel it's more of a unique experience than just picking it out of tub in a grocery store. It's just a good way for families to go out and do something together, and it becomes kind of a tradition.”
Although pumpkin farmers got lucky, not all Rock County farmers were able to escape the summer weather's wrath, said Jim Stute, crops and soils agent for the University of Wisconsin Extension in Rock County.
“In Rock County, it's (the general crop yield) highly variable and basically a matter of where the rain fell and didn't fall - that's the biggest part of the story,” Stute said.
“Corn's the one we know the most about and there's areas in the county where the yields are just phenomenal. The yields were the highest we've had in my five years of being here,” he added. “But then there are other parts where I hear 20 bushels to an acre, compared to 220, so there's quite a range.”
The canning crop suffered considerably, though, mostly because the fields were too soggy to successfully harvest, Stute said. Overall, the southern part of the county, as well as the portion east of the Rock River, faired best in terms of crop yield, he said. In areas that suffered, the biggest impact was on quantity, not quality.
For more information on Skelly's Farm Market, Hermanson Pumpkin Patch or dozens of other pumpkin suppliers throughout Wisconsin, visit www.hauntedwisconsin.com/pumpkins/pumpkins_html.
Halloween lovers, here's a reason to celebrate - pumpkins are still aplenty in the Stateline Area, according to local farmers.
Despite less than ideal growing conditions caused by droughts and flooding throughout Wisconsin this summer, and a statewide crop that Central Wisconsin Pumpkin Growers President Dan Bowles has described as blighted at best, Rock County pumpkin patches aren't feeling the effects too badly.
In fact, most say they have just as many quality pumpkins, if not more, than they would in a typical season.
“Our quantity is down pretty good from previous years, but what's there is good-sized because of all the rain. We were pretty fortunate - we planted extra this year and, with the amount that have gone bad, we still have quite a bit that made it,” said Joe Skelly, co-owner of Skelly's Farm Market in Janesville.
“I must be in a pretty good area, because my pumpkins are real good,” agreed Roger Hermanson, owner of Hermanson Pumpkin Patch in Edgerton.
And they're not just any old pumpkins, either. With 32 varieties, including everything from pie pumpkins to those boasting shades of red, white, pink and green, it's no surprise the pumpkins are being snatched up at an alarming rate, Hermanson added.
“Usually it's the first two weekends in October when people really start thinking of buying a corn shock and buying some pumpkins to decorate the house,” he said. “Last weekend we were busy, but I think this weekend will be busier because the weather is more fall-ish.”
Skelly agreed that it's best to hit the pumpkin patch as soon as possible with the way business has been going so far this season.
“Ever since the end of September, we've been busy - people seem to be ready earlier and earlier every year,” he said.
“The demand doesn't go down at all (from year to year). It's one of those things I feel is passed on from generation to generation, carving pumpkins for Halloween. Families always come out looking for good pumpkins for the kids,” he added. “I guess they feel it's more of a unique experience than just picking it out of tub in a grocery store. It's just a good way for families to go out and do something together, and it becomes kind of a tradition.”
Although pumpkin farmers got lucky, not all Rock County farmers were able to escape the summer weather's wrath, said Jim Stute, crops and soils agent for the University of Wisconsin Extension in Rock County.
“In Rock County, it's (the general crop yield) highly variable and basically a matter of where the rain fell and didn't fall - that's the biggest part of the story,” Stute said.
“Corn's the one we know the most about and there's areas in the county where the yields are just phenomenal. The yields were the highest we've had in my five years of being here,” he added. “But then there are other parts where I hear 20 bushels to an acre, compared to 220, so there's quite a range.”
The canning crop suffered considerably, though, mostly because the fields were too soggy to successfully harvest, Stute said. Overall, the southern part of the county, as well as the portion east of the Rock River, faired best in terms of crop yield, he said. In areas that suffered, the biggest impact was on quantity, not quality.
For more information on Skelly's Farm Market, Hermanson Pumpkin Patch or dozens of other pumpkin suppliers throughout Wisconsin, visit www.hauntedwisconsin.com/pumpkins/pumpkins_html.
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