Oct 25, 2009 3:04 pm US/Eastern
Weather Makes For Small Pumpkin Crop
PARKVILLE, Md. (WJZ) ―
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Local farmers say the weather has made for a smaller than usual pumpkin crop.
AP
Pumpkins are in great demand. Growers across the country have reported fewer pumpkins than usual, though.
Tim Williams reports the crop may be smaller, but the pumpkins are heavier.
As living in Maryland teaches you, smaller crabs are many times the heaviest and most expensive. Well, the same holds true for pumpkins.
"The pumpkins are smaller, but they're dense," said farmer Steve Weber. "They're denser, and if you were making pumpkin pie, this is a good thing."
Autumn's orange crop is feeling the same effect. This season has produced fewer than normal pumpkins, but they weigh in higher than average. That leaves pumpkin farmers like Steve Weber scratching their heads.
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Here in the Mid-Atlantic there's been less than a full crop, but there's been enough. Pumpkin plants, you give them a little bit of TLC, and they keep producing. We haven't had a hard frost and they're still growing," Farmer said.
Families like the Curry's of Timonium don't mind the trade off.
"It always seems like it's more than it should be, but once you get them home and cook up the pumpkin seeds, another family tradition, it's all worth it," said Jim Curry.
It was a colder than average spring. Combine that with rainy skies and clouds. Those things kept pollinating bees in their hives. Add that to a dry August and pumpkin farmers say that's why this crop is smaller than usual.
Pumpkins are planted later in the spring than other crops, so they'll ripen in time for fall activities like Halloween.
This crop may be less than picture perfect, but the word from farmers.
"Not to worry," said Steve Weber. "T
here are pumpkins."
Both growers and crabbers say October is the perfect month to harvest and eat both crabs and pumpkins.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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