Vegetarian Newsletter

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1 Vegetarian Newsletter Horticultural Sciences Department A Vegetable Crops Extension Publication January 2007 Northeast Florida Pumpkin Variety Evaluation Report, 2006 Mr. Doug Gergela Sr. Biological Scientist dgergela@ufl.edu Dr. Chad Hutchinson Associate Professor cmhutch@ufl.edu Horticultural Sciences Department University of Florida/IFAS P.O. Box Cowpen Branch Road Hastings FL Telephone: Fax: Introduction Currently, there is very little commercial pumpkin production in Florida. However, pumpkin production may be a good fit for North Florida for several reasons. First, the majority of pumpkins sold in Florida are imported from northern and western states. Shipping from northern and western production areas to Florida markets increases product cost. Secondly, time spent in transport decreases the shelf-life of the product once it arrives. Development of local production would reduce shipping costs and improve product quality. The Tri-County Agricultural Area (TCAA; Flagler, St. Johns, and Putnam counties) near Hastings, FL is a relatively short distance to the large population areas of Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa-St. Petersburg. Therefore, the TCAA is an ideal location to supply pumpkins to regional markets. In addition, pumpkins are a crop that fit well with the concept of agritourism or agritainment. The objective of this trial was to identify pumpkins varieties that perform well under northeast Florida growing conditions.

2 Materials and Methods The pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata) variety evaluation trial was conducted at the University of Florida/IFAS Hastings Research and Demonstration Farm in Hastings, FL in The evaluation was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plots were 10 hills with two plants per hill. Spacing for vining-type varieties was 33 inches in-row and 160 inches between-row. Spacing for bush type varieties was 33 inches inrow and 80 inches between-row. Seed sources are listed in Tables 2 through 6. Seed of many varieties is available from multiple sources. The crop was grown on silver reflective plastic mulch using seepage irrigation. A combination of soluble and controlled release fertilizer was incorporated under the mulch prior to planting. The total fertilizer rate applied was lb/acre (N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O). Fifty percent of the applied nitrogen was a controlled release fertilizer product programmed to release over approximately 90 days. An additional 30 lb N/acre was broadcast before vines closed the rows. The experiment was planted on 18 July and harvested 9 October. Season length was 92 days long. Pumpkins were counted, weighed, measured, and rated following the characteristics listed in Table 1. A weekly pesticide application schedule following IFAS Extension recommendations was maintained for disease and insect control. Results and Discussion Twenty-six pumpkin varieties were evaluated in Based on yield, fruit size and overall appearance, the outstanding varieties in the small decorative (Table 2), small (Table 3), medium jack-o-lantern (Table 4), large jack-o-lantern (Table 5), and specialty (Table 6) classes were respectively; Lil Pump-ke-mon, Orange Smoothie, Racer, Rocket, and Cinderella. Other varieties that performed well were Baby Boo, Jack-Be-Little, Gold Dust, Hooligan, Lil Ironsides, Neon, New Rocket, Rocket and Long Island Cheese. Although overall pumpkin production levels were not as high as those obtained in northern and western production areas, the pumpkin variety evaluation program identified varieties that set fruit and grew relatively well in Florida s hot and humid summer weather. Evaluation should continue to identify varieties with improved production and quality characteristics in each size class. Grower cooperators are being sought for on-farm trials in 2007.

3 Table 1. Pumpkin grading information. Stem Width Sutures Color Overall Appearance (OA) 1 Very Thin Very Smooth Yellow Very poor Thin Smooth Light Orange Poor Medium Slightly Ribbed Medium Orange Fair Thick Mod. Ribbed Dark Orange Good Very Thick Deeply Ribbed Reddish Orange Excellent

4 Table 2. Production and quality characteristics for small decorative pumpkins produced at the UF/IFAS Hastings Demonstration Unit in Hastings, FL in Variety Source 1 Yield Yield No. Avg. Wt. Length Width Ht. Dia. Ht:Dia Sutures Color OA Baby Boo D , Gold Dust C , Hooligan A , Jack-Be-Little B , Lil Pump-ke-mon A , Mini Treat D , Sweetie Pie D , MSD , p-value < < < < < White-Off White. 4 Mottled Orange with White Specks. 5 White with Green and Orange Stripes. 6 Means separated within columns by Tukey s Studentized Range (HSD) Test.

5 Table 3. Production and quality characteristics for small-sized pumpkins produced at the UF/IFAS Hastings Demonstration Unit in Hastings, FL in Avg. Variety Source 1 Yield Yield No. Wt Length Width Ht. Dia. Ht:Dia Sutures Color OA Cannon Ball A , Iron Man A , Lil Ironsides A , Orange Smoothie B , Pik-A-Pie C , Prankster C , Touch of Autumn C , Trickster C , MSD , p-value < < < < < < < < Means separated within columns by Tukey s Studentized Range (HSD) Test.

6 Table 4. Production and quality characteristics for medium-sized jack-o-lantern pumpkins produced at the UF/IFAS Hastings Demonstration Unit in Hastings, FL in Variety Source 1 Yield Yield No. Avg. Wt. Length Width Ht. Dia. Ht:Dia Sutures Color OA Autumn Gold C , Neon A , Racer B , MSD 3 ns ns ns ns ns 0.1 p-value Means separated within columns by Tukey s Studentized Range (HSD) Test.

7 Table 5. Production and quality characteristics for large-sized jack-o-lantern pumpkins produced at the UF/IFAS Hastings Demonstration Unit in Hastings, FL in Variety Source 1 Yield Yield No. Avg. Wt. Length Width Ht. Dia. Ht:Dia Sutures Color OA Big Autumn C , Gold Challenger C , New Rocket B , Rocket B , Sorcerer A , MSD 3 ns ns ns ns ns 0.07 p-value Means separated within columns by Tukey s Studentized Range (HSD) Test.

8 Table 6. Production and quality characteristics for specialty pumpkins produced at the UF/IFAS Hastings Demonstration Unit in Hastings, FL in Variety Source 1 Yield Yield No. Avg. Wt. Length Width Ht. Dia. Ht:Dia Sutures Color OA Cinderella B , Long Island Cheese B , Lumina C , MSD ns < p-value < Tan-Light Tan 4 White-Off White. 5 Means separated within columns by Tukey s Studentized Range (HSD) Test.