In search of the great pumpkin

By Gracie Hart
Review Staff Writer
Published: October 16, 2008

Every year, without fail, Linus van Pelt sits in what he believes to be the most sincere patch awaiting the Great Pumpkin.  Sadly, he is never visited by the pumpkin but vows to try again the following year.  Like Linus, children around the world go on the search for the great pumpkin each year, hay riding out to the middle of a field and then lugging around their perfect pumpkin. 
A lot goes into growing the pumpkins before they get adopted by a child.  The 1.5 billion pumpkins produced each year in the United States take 90 to 120 days to grow.
“We depend on mother nature to water our pumpkins,“ said Round Hill Farm owner Rob Faulconer.  “If it’s a real dry year, they don’t do as well.“ 
Pumpkins are planted in late spring and are ready for harvest in the fall.  According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture, Virginia grown pumpkins are available in September and October and vary with the weather as to quality.
“This year the pumpkins are beautiful,“ said Faulconer.  “They are better than last year.“
Farms, like Faulconer’s, begin their pumpkin process with the planting in the spring.  Then they spend time baling to make mazes and getting the farm ready for the guests before the pumpkins are even ready for picking.
“It takes all summer for us to get ready,“ said Faulconer.
Once the pumpkin turns an orange color, it is harvested and left in fields for children to find. 
There is a lot to consider when finding the perfect pumpkin such as quality, size and color.  Usually weighing nine to 18 pounds, a pumpkin’s size is usually more of a preference choice than a rule to follow.
“Size varies,“ said Faulconer.  “It really depends on what you like.“
For some, a larger pumpkin means more space for a detailed carving design while some prefer a smaller, rounder pumpkin.  Pumpkins are usually sold at a price per pound so a heavier pumpkin is more expensive while a smaller one is cheaper.
“Pumpkins usually average from $3 to $10 dollars each,“ said Faulconer. 
According to Faulconer, any size is good but you should make sure that the pumpkin has no soft spots and no signs of rotting.  Also, some people like a nice stem to use from removing the top of a pumpkin for placing a candle inside on Halloween.
No matter which you choose, now is the perfect time to pick a pumpkin.
“Anytime the month of October is good for picking a pumpkin,“ said Faulconer.  “Especially with the cool nights and the cool mornings that we’ve been having.“
Once the picking season is over, the left over pumpkins are put to good use: feeding cows.
“Cows love the pumpkins,“ said Faulconer.  “If we have too many, we will also disc them back into the topsoil as a fertilizer.“
For information and locations for picking a pumpkin, contact Round Hill Farm at 854-7398 and Double B Farm at 854-4277.