Georgia Pumpkin Grower: High Quality, Low Quantity

Jim Rogers Georgia, pumpkin

By Clint Thompson                                                                                 Pumpkin season is in full swing, and the quality of this year’s crop is unlike any one grower has ever had. Unfortunately, the quantity is also down this year, according to Drew Echols, owner of Jaemor Farms and president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA). “Quality is phenomenal. It’s some of the best quality …

pumpkin

Alabama Extension Recommends Certain Pumpkin Cultivars

Jim Rogers Alabama, pumpkin

By Clint Thompson Some Alabama vegetable growers are considering their pumpkin plantings for this fall. Andre da Silva, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, highlighted what cultivars growers need to focus on during a recent webinar. “We did some variety trials, and I would just like to show that those are jack-o-lantern pumpkins that we evaluated last year in central Alabama. What …

Growing Calabaza: Crop Perfect for Summer Gardening in Florida

Clint Thompson Florida, pumpkin, Top Posts

MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – Attention Florida vegetable producers and homeowners: Don’t let the summer go by without trying your hand at producing the calabaza. New crop on the block, Calabaza Pumpkin in Florida is the latest video led by Geoffrey Meru, a vegetable geneticist at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center. The video guides homeowners and interested growers with the background …

Interested in Calabaza? UF/IFAS Scientists Laying Groundwork for Chefs, Growers

Clint Thompson Florida, pumpkin, Top Posts

By: Lourdes Rodriguez, 954-577-6363 office, 954-242-8439 mobile, rodriguezl@ufl.edu HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A specialty pumpkin traditionally used in Caribbean, South and Central American dishes, has caught the eye of University of Florida scientist Geoffrey Meru. Meru, a vegetable geneticist at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center, is leading a multi-institutional project aimed at adding value to the calabaza commodity chain …

Prize-Winning Pumpkin Weighs in at More Than a Quarter Ton

Clint Thompson Georgia, pumpkin, Top Posts

By Austin Clark for CAES News More than 25 pumpkins were submitted to Georgia 4-H’s 2020 statewide pumpkin-growing contest, with the largest pumpkin, cultivated in north Georgia’s Union County, weighing in at a whopping 548 pounds. All Georgia 4-H youth were encouraged to participate by submitting one pumpkin for consideration. Participants took their entries to their local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office …

Abnormally Wet Fall Challenging for Alabama Pumpkin Producers

Clint Thompson Alabama, pumpkin, Top Posts

An abnormally wet September has required Alabama pumpkin farmers to maintain strict fungicide applications, especially following Hurricane Sally’s trek through the state on Sept. 16. Neil Kelly, Alabama Extension Regional agent in Southeast Alabama, said the lack of consistent sunshine over the last two weeks has created disease concerns for pumpkin growers. “We haven’t really had a real good break …

Breeding Better Cucurbits

Ashley Robinson Alabama, Cucurbits, Florida, Georgia, pumpkin, Top Posts, VSCNews magazine, Watermelon

By Cecilia McGregor and George Boyhan Cucurbit crops are some of the most widely grown vegetable crops in the Southeast. However, the hot and humid climate is conducive to pest and disease development, which presents a challenge to growers. Cucurbit breeding at the University of Georgia (UGA) is focused on breeding pumpkin, watermelon and squash with excellent fruit quality and …

Producing Pumpkins is Challenging in South Alabama

Clint Thompson Alabama, pumpkin, Top Posts

Growing pumpkins is popular in South Alabama, but it comes with its challenges. Neil Kelly, Alabama Regional Extension agent, said disease management is a huge concern for any grower interested in producing pumpkins. “The pumpkin crop is a difficult crop to grow in my part of the state. I just throw that out to there to everybody that calls about …