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Steve Reiners, professor of horticulture at Cornell University and a New York state vegetable industry expert, says the 2019 season has some of the best quality pumpkins he’s ever seen.
Stephen Reiners
Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science
“The 2019 growing season started cool and rainy but a warmer, dryer summer ensured that New York growers will have plenty of pumpkins this year. Our yields are about average, but the quality of the pumpkins is about the best I have ever seen. I’ve also noticed that we’re seeing many more odd and unique gourds being grown this year, with some farms having upwards of 50 different kinds. It’s a lot of fun to see the variety.
“When choosing your pumpkin, look for one with a sturdy, hard stem with no soft spots on the fruit. You can buy ones that still show a little green as they will continue to ripen on your porch. A good pumpkin bought today should easily last until Halloween, if not Thanksgiving.
“Many people are not aware that New York grows more jack-o-lantern type pumpkins than any state in the country. If you plan to cut them for jack-o-lanterns, wait until a few days before Halloween. Once you carve them, they will only last about seven days.”
