By Clint Thompson
The current dry weather sweltering Alabama is having a positive impact on the state’s pumpkin crop; as long as producers are able to apply irrigation.
David Lawrence, regional Extension agent in central Alabama, discussed the crop in his coverage area.
“We were pretty wet in July, and that’s always a concern when you’re growing cucurbits, is all the rain and fighting disease. Those pumpkin growers, it doesn’t hurt their feelings that we’re not getting a whole lot of rain right now, as long as they have the means to irrigate through drip,” Lawrence said. “They’re pretty happy that we’re hot and dry right now.
“We’ve got a handful of agritourism, pumpkin patches where (growers) grow their own pumpkins. That’s kind of our niche in this area.”
COVID Impact
The pumpkin industry in Alabama expanded amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Families wanted to venture out to fall festivals and pumpkin patches, just months after the pandemic began. That benefited growers who thrive with agritourism, specifically with pumpkin patches.
“The agritourism places around here really took off during COVID, because that was the only thing to get out and do outside. People were forced to get outside and do stuff, so they discovered the agritourism avenue and return every year,” Lawrence said. “As far as I can tell the market is still there for getting into the agritourism side of things. It’s just another outlet to move product.”