VICTORIA, Minn. — It's probably still pretty clear in our recent memories that this growing season started late and then turned very wet. There also wasn't a whole lot of heat throughout the summer to help plants grow. Pumpkins could have used some more heat.
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum pumpkin masters Jenny and John Thull are surprised at how well their field of pumpkins, gourds and squash produced, despite the massive amounts of rain this season. There were a lot of rotten blossoms that would have otherwise become fruit.
Jenny credits their harvest to a sort of premonition she had to plant more than they had in previous years. That bit of foresight paid off.
The Thull's and their crew planted 333 varieties of pumpkins, gourds and squash. And of those, they harvested 300 varieties. This is not a two-person job. Volunteers from Wells Fargo not only helped harvest and catalog the harvest, they also spent time in the heat and humidity of summer making sure weeds didn't overtake the vines in the 3.5 acres planted.
Lucky, the Thull's dog, helps out too.
We thank them too, because these are the decorations we see in the KARE 11 Backyard! Straight from Chanhassen to Golden Valley.
The pumpkins are also available to see and purchase at the Arboretum AppleHouse. They make great decor but many are also delicious to eat! Check out Jenny's recipes for some inspiration.
AppleHouse Info:
Open 10-6 daily
7485 Rolling Acres Rd., Victoria, Minnesota (past the Arboretum entrance on Hwy. 5)
Meanwhile, we answered some of your latest Grow with KARE questions on our Oct. 5, 2019 segment.
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