Western Canadians who want a locally grown pumpkin for their pies and jack-o’-lanterns should get out early to avoid disappointment.
Connie Achtymichuk, vegetable crop specialist for Saskatchewan Agriculture, described Saskatchewan’s pumpkin crop as one of the worst in the last few years.
A rainy summer and early frost have hurt many growers in the province.
“It’s sort of hit and miss,” she said.
Joan Merrill of Robertson Valley Farms near Saskatoon had to plant her pumpkins two weeks later than normal but was able to get a good crop this year.
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Good varieties and years of experience growing pumpkins gave her an advantage.
“We know what we’re doing,” she said.
Wayne Gienow, owner of Lincoln Farms at Lumsden, Sask., saw his 90,000 pumpkin crop devastated this year. Heavy rains through the planting season in late May and early June forced him to plant his crop late. He had to seed his first batch in a greenhouse and then transplant them. He got the last of the crop planted in late June.
Pumpkins can tolerate light frost if their shells harden and they start to turn orange, said Gienow.
His late plantings left two-thirds of his pumpkins vulnerable when the first frost hit in late August.
He is concerned that excess moisture from this summer’s rains could lead to flooding next spring.
“I live in the bottom of a valley, so I’ve got a lot more to worry about,” he said.
Despite his own crop shortfalls, Gienow said large crops in Ontario and British Columbia will easily fill the shortfall in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
