Texas pumpkins' price and acreage have producers looking forward to harvest, which will start much sooner than expected, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

J.D. Ragland of Floydada, Extension agent in Floyd County, said pumpkins in the South Plains area are about two weeks ahead of schedule thanks to the ample rain that fell across Texas during the spring.

"[Pumpkins] are looking really good," Ragland said. "Pumpkins thrive on moisture, and all the surplus rain that Texas got really caused pumpkins to grow and develop extra fast. I'm expecting to see some pumpkins harvested by the end of the month."

The customary time for Texas' pumpkin harvest is mid-September to the end of October, he added.

The extra rainfall Floyd County received this year – 15 to 25 inches in some areas – has boosted the yields in rapidly maturing fields. But the extra rain has been harmful as well.

"The rain has caused some problems," he said. "[Producers] have had to battle invasions of weed and fungus."
When weather is humid and wet, fungus can become a problem, Ragland said. "Fungus has been a little bit more of a problem this year," he said.

"Producers have to stay on top of things. They need to know what's going on in their fields, see the signs of fungus, and when it appears, treat it."

Producers in Floyd County, or "Pumpkin Capital USA," as named by residents, planted around 1,800 acres of pumpkins. "This year's acreage is about average," he said.

"Numbers have been as low as 1,400 acres, but the norm for this area is around the 2,000-acre marker.
Most producers sell pumpkins throughout the county individually or by roadside sells.

"Producers have volume buyers come with their flat-beds, trailers, and pickups and buy large volumes of pumpkins. One producer has his own ‘pick your own' pumpkin-selling field, and you can pick the right that's just right for you," Ragland said.

Floyd County producers generally grow four types of pumpkins.

"Miniature pumpkins are the itty-bitty ones that are used primarily for decoration," he said.

Pie pumpkins average 4 to 6 pounds and are used for filling in pies.

"The most common pumpkin to the public is the medium-sized pumpkin, called the jack-o-lantern pumpkin," he said. "It averages from about 6 pounds to 12 pounds.

"The big ones, named ‘Big Macs' pumpkins, are what draw the most attention. They can weigh anywhere from 40 to 200 pounds and are used mainly for decoration."

Pumpkins are expected to bring a satisfactory price, Ragland said, whether sold by the pound or individually.

"Last year was one of the better price ranges that we've had, bringing 10 cents a pound," he said. "The average is usually around 6 cents, but there's promise to get to get more than that this year. That's what we're anticipating."

Over the next couple of months consumers should start finding pumpkins in grocery stores. "There's a real good chance that it was grown in Pumpkin Capital USA, Floyd County America," he said.

Dr. Dudley Smith of College Station, Texas A&M University department of soil and crop sciences professor, said Texas is in the top 10 pumpkin producing states, harvesting around 4,500 acres to 6,500 acres of pumpkins annually. Most of those acres are produced in and around Floyd County, he said.

"[Floyd County] soils are well suited for pumpkins and disease problems are less intense there," he said. "They are a group of pumpkin growers who are very dedicated to producing a quality crop."