Pumpkin
Cucurbita pepo, C. moschata, C .argyrosperma, and C. maxima (Cucurbitaceae)
Fast Facts: Acres in Washington: 1968
Number of Growers: 419
*Statistics Provided by the Washington Agriculture Statistics
Service
Description
of crop:
Pumpkins belong to any of four species. Physical characteristics and use typically
distinguish “pumpkins” from other squash. There are four basic types of
pumpkins: small (4-6 lbs), intermediate (8-15 lbs), large (15-25 lbs) and jumbo
(50-1500 lbs). Botanically, pumpkins are classified as a fruit but they are
generally regarded as a vegetable. Pumpkins are generally hand harvested when
fully mature, like winter squash. They are produced on trailing annual plants that
have large usually 5-pointed leaves. Pumpkins, like all cucurbits, require a long,
warm growing season. Pumpkins are direct-seeded after all risk of frost has
passed, uniformly irrigated, shallow-rooted and bee-pollinated. The fruit can vary
in size, color and shape and range from 3lbs to over 1500 pounds in weight. The
rind of the fruit is soft, thus harvested pumpkins must be handled with care.
Pumpkins tend to be strong flavored with a coarse flesh that makes them
unsuitable for baking. Pumpkin seeds can be roasted and are a healthy snack.
Pumpkins yield 15,000 pounds per acre and sell for 6 cents to 20 cents per pound.
Generally pumpkins are marketed as an ornamental crop, the primary market
being the Halloween season. In 2010, the world record pumpkin weighed 1,810
lbs.
Key pests:
The most serious pest in pumpkin is the curly top virus. This is vectored by the
beet leafhopper and stunts the growth by hardening stems and leaves. Other
disease pests include white mold, and powdery mildew. White mold is a fungus
that causes blighting and rotting. Powdery mildew is a fungus on the foliage and
stems and appears as a talcum-like layer on the plant surface. Weeds can be a
problem since they make harvest difficult and can reduce air movement thus
increasing diseases. They include pigweeds, nutsedge, nightshade, lambsquarter,
and barnyard grasses. The major insect pest in pumpkin is the beet leafhopper,
which vectors the curly top virus. Other insect pests are squash bugs, loopers,
cutworms and spider mites. Both the cutworms and spider mites eat the rind of
the fruit.
Key pesticides:
The curly top virus is most commonly controlled by treating for the vector, the
beet leafhopper, with pyrethroids. Powdery mildew can be controlled with
Procure and Rally. Weeds can be controlled with Curbit and Poast. Squash bugs
are controlled with Lannate and pyrethroids. Loopers and cutworms are
controlled with Mustang and Warrior. The beet leafhopper is controlled with
pyrethroids, and growers should use weed control to diminish the insect
populations that build up in weeds.
Critical pest
control issues:
To eliminate mildew, good cultural practices should be practiced. Growers
should select resistant cultivars, and utilize good site selection and crop rotation.
Bee safety must be considered if insecticides are used. Squash bugs can be
difficult to control since the nymphs feed primarily on the undersides of leaves
and are often protected from insecticide applications.
Expert contacts: St. Clair Woodworth
Grower
Sunnyside, WA 98944
830 0614
Garrett Henry
509 832 2014
Location
of production: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz,
Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Grant, Gray’s Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas,
Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit,
Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman
and Yakima counties
small intermediate large
Jumbo