Rally, Pumpkins! (31 Days #3)

posted Monday, 6 October 2008

The buzz here in the Northeast is that pumpkins aren't primed and ready for their premiere this October.

See, it's been sort of 'monsoony' in the east since June. According to New Hampshire's Concord Monitor, heavy rain in July and August and cool temperatures are perfect breeding grounds for mildew, making it harder to grow healthy pumpkins.

Mildew can attack the plant's leaves, preventing them from growing quickly. Funguses, like Plectosporium, can cause white lesions to appear on the fruit. All of that can cause a (gasp) pumpkin shortage during what should be their peak time of year. Word to the wise: get your gourds early!

pumpkin