Grabbing that Halloween pumpkin, it could have been grown in the Upper Cumberland, but it takes good genetics and chemicals.
Cumberland County Agricultural and Natural Resource Agent Gregg Upchurch said pumpkins can do well in the Upper Cumberland area. But fungus, parasites, and the weather can create problems. Upchurch said farmers can cultivate pumpkins in the area if they use the proper tools.
“It can get on the leaves, defoliate the leaves, it can impact their production,” Upchurch said. “There’s also some insects that can be problematic on those pumpkins but if you’re willing to do, you know, certain sprays, to kind of keep those at bay, and doing a really good job with cultural management, you can absolutely grow pumpkins here on the Plateau.”
Upchurch said the largest problem in the Upper Cumberland is the climate. Upchurch said disease pressure can cause plants to grow fungus or rot. Upchurch said the region struggles with this issue because of excessive rain and moisture. Upchurch said he recommends trickle irrigation so farmers can control the amount of water pumpkins receive through rainy months.
Upchurch said fungicide can help prevent potential fungal pathogens from damaging pumpkins.
“A lot of your commercial type pumpkin growers are going to use, you know, an array of fungicides to really kind of ward those off,” Upchurch said. “And then again some of the vine boars that we’ll pay attention to in terms of controlling insects.”
He said the key to a truly perfect pumpkin is seed genetics. Upchurch said great pumpkins produce high quality seeds. Upchurch said pumpkins vary in shape, size and color.
“People that grow ginormous, these giant, giant pumpkins, starts with the seed that they use,” Upchurch said. “And these people that grow pumpkins that are exceptionally large will tend to save the seeds out of those pumpkins.”
Upchurch said the growing of large pumpkins can often be an art all to itself.
“Sometimes for like the giant pumpkins, you know, those people will actually pick out one pumpkin to grow and then they take the rest of the pumpkins off of the vine,” Upchurch said. “And so that plant is putting all of the energy into that one fruit.”
