Canada’s largest pumpkin patch is facing a smaller harvest this year.
Farmers in Norfolk County say a prolonged dry spell has reduced both the number and size of pumpkins in their fields. They say that this is affecting jack-o’-lanterns and pie pumpkins.
Ryan Kukielka grows 450 acres of pumpkins in Vanessa, southwest of Brantford. He said the farm received less than two inches of rain throughout the growing season. Even with irrigation, yields and pumpkin sizes were lower than usual.
At Szatrowski Farm Produce in Greens Corners, west of Simcoe, intense summer heat caused many pumpkin plants to fail before they flower. Farmer Zebb Szatrowski said the dry soil, combined with fertilizer, prevented some seeds from germinating.
The surviving plants brought smaller pumpkins. This forced Szatrowski to buy additional pumpkins from a larger Norfolk County grower to meet wholesale orders.
