Pumpkin Growing Process
Pumpkins take 90-120 days to mature after planting seeds, depending on variety. When ripe, pumpkins have hard rind and woody stem. Carefully cut stem, leaving inches on pumpkin. Profit varies as farm sizes differ. Farmers make over $20,000 per acre growing pumpkins.
Pumpkins need 50 to 120 square feet per plant. Additionally, they need well-drained soil, full sun, and fertilizer. Farmers must prevent problems as crops are vulnerable.
Planting and Harvesting
Pumpkins are planted with 30-40 inches between plants and 8-12 feet between rows. There are 1,600 to 2,800 plants per acre. A good yield is 1,000 pumpkins per acre. At 7 cents a pound for a 20-pound pumpkin, income is $1,400. Labor reduces this. Most patches are 2 to 40 acres, yielding $12,000 to $240,000 profit.
Diversifying Profits
Patches offer more than pumpkins, like mazes and rides, increasing profits. Start with one or two activities before expanding. Sell pumpkins in bulk. Buyers take pumpkins to stores. Cider and pies bring more income. Balance added sales and costs.