pumpkins a-plenty

Kanyon was the king of the pumpkin patch this year. 

We had a good run with having the pumpkin patch at our house the last 6 years, but it was becoming too hectic in the fall with the boys' sports schedules to do it again at our place (it takes up 3 weekends in October). Instead, we planted about 1/3 the amount of pumpkins we did in previous years to sell at the one-day Fall Frolic at the Sacajawea Center. (This picture shows the pumpkin patch on the left and the amount of empty ground--from the center of the photo to the right by the hay bales--because we planted so much less this year.)

Planting fewer pumpkin seeds meant a lighter load to weed and water throughout the summer. It was a much more manageable job! Kanyon did a good job weeding, and Josh and I both helped him until the plants became to big to weed anymore. 

This year's crop felt like the right amount of plants and pumpkins; it wasn't so overwhelming to weed or water or pick or store. We planted 4 varieties: blue pumpkins, Connecticut Field, a giant breed, and mini pumpkins. We had several requests for white pumpkins, but we haven't had a big success with them in the past, so we chose not to plant them this year. We had about 50 hills of plants, and we produced over 200 pumpkins. 

Kanyon helped me cut the pumpkins from the vines, with assistance from Jonah and Micah too. We placed the pumpkins into a trailer, and they all fit! (Usually we have to put them in multiple sheds/shops/trailers to fit them all.) We spent two afternoons doing the job on the last weekend in September. (In years past, we've spent five or more days cutting and moving pumpkins into storage). Once the trailer was full, we took it to Josh's work to park in the large shop so that the deer wouldn't have access to it--which is what would've happened if we'd left it at our place.) 

It was such a hot September, and October, and we've never cut them from the vine so late before. Because they were stored in an inside shop, and it was so hot, some of them went bad before we were able to have our sale day in October. 

Some of my favorite pumpkins this year were the ones with the green, spindly veins. And I also found one with a super cool stem that went all the way down its back.

We had a good crop of blue pumpkins, and were able to sell all of them but one. I have never had any left over of this kind in previous years, and I'm excited to make some pumpkin puree with it--I hear blue pumpkin puree tastes incredible!

We only had 4 mini pumpkin plants grow, out of the 10 hills we planted. We still got a ton of minis out of those plants, though, which are always popular with the little kids at our pumpkin patch sale days. 

Grandma Kathy also grew some fun gourds and small squash that she donated to Kanyon's pumpkin patch. Our customers enjoyed the variety!

The Fall Frolic was on Saturday, October 10. The weather was so beautiful!! We took the trailer down to the Sacajawea Center and Josh, Kanyon, and I unloaded all the pumpkins. Then Josh had to go back home to help with skinning deer that he and Ammon had gotten that morning. Jonah was out of town at a football game, and Micah was hunting that day as well, so it was just Kanyon and I at the pumpkin patch.

We sorted and moved the pumpkins into 4 different piles based on their size, and the four different sizes were each assigned a certain cost ranging between $2 and $5. All the mini pumpkins were 50c each and the small gourds were $1. In previous years, we weighed each pumpkin and the cost was 15c per pound, but we thought this would be easier for both the customers and Kanyon and I.

The Fall Frolic lasted for 3 hours, and we had a steady turnout during that time. The pumpkin patch was set up down along the walking trail about a quarter mile away from the rest of the fall celebration. Miniature horses pulled wagons of people to and from our site to the Sacajawea Center where there was homemade cider, homemade donuts, games, crafts, and a photo booth. 

Our spot was under a giant tree and close to bathrooms, so the location was ideal. We also had a man playing a dulcimer instrument the whole time at our spot which was a fun addition! We sold about 120 of the bigger pumpkins on that day, and donated the rest to non-profit organizations in town. We had such a positive experience selling pumpkins at the Sacajawea Center, we told the coordinators that we would do it again next year. It was a great experience for Kanyon to grow and sell the pumpkins. He was a good worker, and we were so proud of him for his abilities to weed in the summer, work in the garden, and help the customers on sale day!