Pumpkins/Squash

California’s world heavyweight championship of Godzilla gourds is on

Where there's a will there's a weigh! Bring it on beefy, burly behemoths! The excitement is building in Pumpkintown as the World’s Greatest Gourd Growers and their mind-blowing, Volkswagen-sized orange orbs hope to squash the world... more »

Winter squash for extended sales pursued

Growers with CSAs, sales to schools and institutions, or restaurant customers should consider storing and marketing winter squash. Winter squash include a wide range of types including butternuts and neck pumpkins, acorns, spaghetti squash, buttercup... more »

Delayed fruit set and pumpkin development seen in 2020

Some pumpkin fields have seen a delay in fruit set due to high temperatures in late June and July in 2020. When set is delayed until August, the question is will the pumpkin develop and... more »

Disease concerns surface in Pennsylvania vegetable crops

Late last week, late blight was confirmed in Chautauqua County, New York, on tomatoes and potatoes. Late blight is characterized by irregularly shaped lesions that are initially water-soaked and pale green before turning gray-brown. Under... more »

Pennsylvania vegetable, berry crops impacted by weather, disease, pests

On Aug. 21, 2020, a drought watch was issued by the Department of Environmental Protection for 16 counties in Pennsylvania. These counties include McKean, Potter, Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield, Center, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, Cameron, Blair, Huntingdon,... more »

New Season, new beginnings for pumpkins at Van Groningen & Sons

With the year that we have all had, we could all use something to look forward to. For us at Van Groningen & Sons, that is the pumpkin season. The change of weather, the busyness... more »

AI detects powdery mildew early so growers can manage disease in squash

Plant detectives and engineers from the University of Florida are using artificial intelligence to find a disease early so growers who produce summer squash can keep it under control. Early detection gives farmers a fighting... more »

Fruit set problems, pollination disorders in fruiting vegetables

Vegetable harvest is peaking on in Delmarva, Delaware. Unfortunately, we often see pollination problems in fruiting vegetables when weather conditions are unfavorable and 2020 is no exception. Signs of incomplete pollination in cucurbits include bottlenecked fruit or... more »