Pumpkin Farming Profitability
Pumpkins take 80-120 days to mature after planting seeds. The average small pumpkin farm makes about $30,000 per year. Profit varies as farms are different sizes. Farmers growing pumpkins make over $20,000 per acre.
Pumpkins are planted in rows with 30-40 inches between plants and 8-12 feet between rows. There are 1,600 to 2,800 pumpkins plants per acre. A good yield is 1,000 pumpkins per acre. At 7 cents a pound for a 20-pound pumpkin, the income is $1,400. Labor reduces this by 50 to 60 percent. Most patches are 2 to 40 acres, yielding $12,000 to $240,000 profit.
Activities and Profit
Patches offer more than pumpkins, like mazes and rides. Adding activities increases profits. Start with one or two activities before expanding. Sell pumpkins in bulk. Buyers take pumpkins to stores. Consider value-added products. Cider and pies bring more income. Balance added sales and costs.
Value of an Acre of Pumpkins
Pumpkins take 80-120 days to mature after planting. Despite challenges, pumpkins can be very profitable – over $20,000 per acre. Pumpkin yield per acre varies by variety. Small pumpkin varieties yield 15,000-30,000 pounds per acre. Large carving pumpkin varieties yield about 1,000 pumpkins per acre. Plant spacing impacts yield. Allow 50-120 square feet per plant for proper growth. At 7 cents a pound for a 20-pound pumpkin, the gross income per acre is $1,400. Labor at harvest reduces income by 50-60 percent. They require substantial fertilizer and irrigation. Disease, insects and drought reduce yields if not properly managed. Miniature varieties yield upwards of 12 fruits per plant. Large varieties yield 1-2 pumpkins per plant. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California lead U.S. pumpkin production. Pumpkins need well-drained fertile soil and full sun.