It’s Pumpkin Time

The arrival of fall brings with it the annual pumpkin harvest. Whether they were produced in our own garden or purchased from someone else, these colorful members of the cucurbit family add to the festivity of the autumn season and provide us with a nutritious food source.

Pumpkin derived its name from the Greek word "pepon" which, literally interpreted, means "large melon". The French word for "pepon" was "pompon" and the Englished changed the latter to "pumpion". Indeed, Shakespeare referred to pompon in his Merry Wives of Windsor.

American colonists are credited with changing "pumpion" to "pumpkin", the name which still associated with several members of the genus Curcubita. including C. maxima, C. moschata and C. pepo. The names pumpkin and winter squash commonly are used for all of these species but most authorities place the large, orange fruit sold for autumn decoration in the species C. maxima and assign winter squash as a common name to the other two species. Interestingly, the canned product sold for making pumpkin pies actually is C. moschata, a species of winter squash.

Archeological evidence suggests that pumpkins and winter squash are native to the Americas from the southwestern part of what is now the United States through Mexico and Central America and south into Peru, Equador and Colombia. Pumpkins have been cultivated since about 3500 B.C. rivaling it with maize (corn) as one of the oldest known crops in the western hemisphere. Native Americans are said to have roasted long strips of pumpkin on an open fire and then consumed them. They also dried pumpkin strips and wove them into mats. Colonists are said to have sliced off the tops of pumpkins, removed the seeds and refilled the inside with a mixture of milk, spices and honey. The resultant product was baked in hot ashes and is said to be the origin of our modern pumpkin pie. Since pumpkins are warm season vegetables that require a relative long growing season they never have gained popularity in northern Europe and the British Isles where the summer temperatures are not conducive to their growth.

Today, pumpkins still are valuable as a food crop but are more widely used for their ornamental value. Brightly colored, orange pumpkins are a staple for fall decoration especially around Halloween when scarey faces are carved into them to form jack-olanterns. Although jack-o-lanterns have been carved by people for centuries, the use of pumpkins to make them is relatively new and originated in America. Jack-o-lanterns originated in Ireland where, according to Irish myth, a notorious character by the name of "Stingy Jack" succeeded in tricking the devil on several occasions through the course of his life, much to the devil’s chagrin. Upon his death, Stingy Jack appeared at the gates of hell to learn his eternal fate but the devil, having been fooled by him on several prior occasions, refused to let him enter. Instead, he sent Jack off into the dark night with a burning lump of coal to guide his way. According to legend, Jack put the glowing coal into a hollowed out turnip and has been roaming the Earth ever since. Immigrants arriving in America continued the tradition of making jack-o-lanterns but found pumpkins much easier to carve than turnips. The association of jack-o-lanterns with Halloween is related to the Celtic festival of Samhain, observed on October 31st—the Celtic equivalent to our New Year’s Eve. The Celts believed the spirits of the dead (including Stingy Jack) roamed the earth on that night.

Pumpkins are heat-loving and should not be planted until the soil has thoroughly warmed in the spring. Early June is a suggested planting date for most areas in Missouri. Select a location with good soil that is well-drained and has few perennial weeds. Avoid areas that have received herbicides the previous year aimed at broad-leaf weed control since these compound can carry over to the following year. Pumpkins are vigorous growers and heavy feeders that require adequate nutrition to produce a good crop. Follow soil test recommendations or apply about 1000 pounds of a starter fertilizer such as 5-10-10 per acre (10 pounds per 100 feet of row) when preparing soil for planting. Later, when the vines start to "run" (reach a length of 12 - 15 inches) sidedress with 20 to 30 pounds of actual nitrogen and 60 to 100 pounds of actual potassium (K₂O) per acre (one pound of 13-0-44 per 100 feet of row). The ideal soil pH for pumpkin production is between 6.0 and 6.5.

Spacing pumpkins depends upon variety. Most older, large-fruited varieties produce very vigorous vines that can spread up to 18 feet. Traditionally, these types are spaced 12 to 15 feet between rows and 2 to 4 feet between plants within the rows. Newer, semi-vining varieties can be planted in rows 9 to 12 feet apart with plants 2 feet apart within the rows. Dwarf pumpkins can be planted even more closely leaving only 6 to 8 feet between rows and 2 feet between plants within the rows. The use of black plastic mulch will both conserve moisture and help control weeds within the rows.

Because of their lush vegetative growth, pumpkins are prone to insect and disease infestation. Squash bug, squash vine borer, cucumber beetle and aphids are some of the more troublesome insects that attack pumpkins. Timely applications of pesticides labeled for these insects (e.g. endosulfan and carbaryl) can help to minimize damage. Monitoring insect populations by inspection or through the use of traps is essential for proper timing of pesticide applications. Problematic diseases of pumpkins include powdery mildew, angular leaf spot, black rot, gummy stem blight, mosaic virus and bacterial wilt. Strict sanitation including the removal or turning under of all plant residue between crops is the first line of defense against disease infestation. Following that, preventative fungicides (e.g. chlorothalonil) are very effective in protecting pumpkins from disease problems caused by fungi.

Weeds tend to reduce both yield and quality of pumpkins by competing for sun, water and plant nutrients. Additional to the use of mulch, hand cultivation during the early stages of growth is essential for good weed control. Once the vines start to run, weed control becomes difficult unless herbicides are used. Trifluralin, clomazone and ethalfluralin are examples of herbicides that have been successfully used for weed control in pumpkins. With these or any other pesticides applied, always read and follow label directions.

Harvesting pumpkins at full maturity is essential for high quality and good storage life. Maturity occurs when the shell (rind) has completely hardened. Fruits destined for storage should be allowed to undergo a curing process after harvesting by exposing them for about two weeks to temperatures in the 75 to 85 degree F. range along with good air circulation. Avoid waiting until after a hard frost to harvest pumpkins since this will adversely affect storage. A portion of the stem (i.e., the "handle") should be left attached to the pumpkin since this usually makes them more decorative.

There are many varieties of pumpkin that can be grown successfully in Missouri. Table 1 was developed by Kansas State University based on their trials and lists some of the more popular varieties for the Midwest.

Giant and jack-o-lantern types can produce up to 30,000 pounds of marketable fruit per acre making pumpkins an attractive crop for small-scale or part-time farming operations. Marketing opportunities include wholesale markets, cooperatives, local retailers (e.g. grocery stores), roadside stands and U-pick operations. But whether for profit or pleasure, pumpkin growing is as American as apple (pumpkin??) pie and adds to our enjoyment of the autumn season.

TABLE 1
Giant (over 20 pounds)
Atlantic Giant	120	Large, medium orange color
Big Max	120	Bright orange color
Big Moon	120	Very large size
Prizewinner	120	Good color and shape
Jack-o-lantern (7-20 pounds)
Alladin	100	Dark orange, mildew tolerant
Applachian	90	Semi-vine, good handle
Aspen	90	Good handle, medium orange
Autumn King	105	Good handle, dark orange
Autumn Gold	90	Early coloring
Big Autumn	100	Early color, large autumn gold
Frosty	95	Compact vine
Gold Rush	120	Deep orange, large handle
Howden	105	Med. orange, good handle
Jack of All Trades	90	Semi-vine, deep orange
Magic Lantern	100	Dark orange, mildew tolerant
Merlin	100	Dark orange, mildew tolerant
Sorcerer	115	Semi-vine, deep orange, good handle
School Time	90	Bright orange, compact vine
Small or Pie (4-7 pounds)
Hybrid Pam	90	Dark orange, compact vine
Mystic Plus	100	Mildew tolerant
Neon	70	Early, semi-vine, mildew tolerant
Oz	100	Early coloring, smooth
Trickster	85	Dark orange, good handle
Baby (1-3 pounds)
Baby Bear	105 1	lb., good handle
Baby Pam	100 2	lbs., uniform
Lil Goblin	100	.75 - 1 lb., smooth, very hard shell
Lil Ironsides	100	1 - 2 lbs., smooth, very hard shell
Spooktacular	85	2 -3 lbs., uniform, good shape
Miniature (less than 1 pound)
Baby Boo	100	White shell
Jack Be Little	95	.5 lb., medium vine
Munchkin	100	.5 lb., very uniform, bright orange
Sweetie Pie	100	Bright orange
Novelty
Buckskin	115	Buff colored, acorn shaped, good for pie
Casper	90	Bright white, smooth, 10-12 lbs.

Dave Trinklein
Horticulture
573-882-9631