Horticulture Series #216

Principal Investigators

Jonathan R. Schultheis,  Professor and Vegetable Extension Specialist, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University and Annette L. Wszelaki, UT Vegetable Extension Specialist, Department of Plant Science, University of Tennessee

Acknowledgments

View or print a pdf version of this report.

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Kaleb Rathbone (Superintendent), John Eric Freeman (Horticultural Crops Supervisor) and other supporting personnel at the Mountain Research Station, Waynesville, NC, for their help in establishing, maintaining, and harvesting the pumpkin cultivar evaluation trial. Additionally, we would like to thank the University of Tennessee and North Carolina State University student workers for assisting with various aspects of the trial and the Tuscola High School agriculture students for their help with harvest.

We want to acknowledge the following seed companies for their cooperation and support: Abbott & Cobb, Inc.; DP Seed; Enza Zaden USA; HM Clause Seed Company; Johnny’s Selected Seeds; Rupp Seeds, Inc.; and Sakata Seed Company. We also want to acknowledge Joy Smith for conducting the statistical analysis on the data collected in this trial. Finally, we want to acknowledge, support for this study was provided by the US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, for the CucCAP Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant under award number 2015-51181-24285.

Disclaimer: This publication presents data from the cultivar evaluation trial conducted during 2016. Information contained in this report is believed to be reliable but should not be relied upon as a sole source of information. Limited accompanying detail is included but excludes some pertinent information, which may aid interpretation. View the pdf version of the 2016 pumpkin cultivar evaluations.

General Cultural Practices

The pumpkin cultivar evaluation trial was grown on black plastic mulch and fertigated using drip tape. Pesticides used on all plots were chemicals labeled for that crop, (2016 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual).

Introduction

In 2016, the USDA- National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that planted acres of pumpkin for North Carolina and Tennessee was 3,800 and 1,900 acres, respectively. The economic value of the pumpkin crop in North Carolina was reported to be more than 15 million dollars in 2016. Although the crop carries a significant value to producers in both states the total planted acres is still modest when compared to other commodities grown within each state. In the western part of North Carolina and in pockets of Tennessee, pumpkin production is extensive
due to the favorable climate and soils of the region. Collaborative pumpkin cultivar evaluation trials have been conducted by North Carolina State University and the University of Tennessee for about a decade. The advantage of growing pumpkin in areas of higher elevation is the cooler growing conditions where growers seem to experience less disease pressure, a point that Travis Birdsell, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Agent, highlighted in a CALS news story. According to the USDA Economic research service, consumer demand for specialty varieties has been increasing in recent years. The pumpkin cultivars included in this trial were mainly evaluated for yield. However, each cultivar was also rated for shape, color, suturing, vine habit, handle characteristics, and fruit size measurements. The fruit obtained from each replicated cultivar are also identified in a photograph. Several other cultivars were also included in the trial as observation plots (non-replicated) and most of these cultivars are identified in a photograph where available.

The 2016 pumpkin variety trial was conducted at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville, NC. Station Superintendent Kaleb Rathbone joined Extension agent Travis Birdsell and Extension specialists Jonathan Schultheis of NC State University and Annette Wszelaki of the University of Tennessee. Photo courtesy of NC State CALS Newswire. The 2016 Pumpkin Variety Trial Booklet will be published soon.

Materials and Methods

This trial was conducted at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville, NC, and was a collaboration between North Carolina State University and the University of Tennessee. Seeds were planted on 21 June 2016. A total of 56 cultivars were evaluated, with 18 cultivars being un-replicated and for observational purposes only. The remaining 25 cultivars were evaluated in a randomized complete block (RCB) trial with 3 replications. Each plot measured 20 feet long with 6 plants spaced 3 feet apart (in-row) and row spacing was 10 ft (between-row).

Plant bed preparation included pre-plant fertilizer (250 lb/acre 12-21-21 and 21-0-0 at 380 lb/acre) broadcast applied and incorporated into the beds on 16 June before laying plastic mulch, providing 110 lb N, 53 lb P and 53 lb of K per acre. Fertigation with 50 lb KNO3 (13-0-44) was applied through drip irrigation on 25 July 2016; 12 and 19 August; 2 and 9 September 2016. A total of 117 lb/acre N, 53 lb/acre P and 75 lb/acre Kwas applied to the trial site throughout the entire growing season.

Insecticides were only applied when needed and were applied at labeled rates for pumpkin production in North Carolina. The fungicide program implemented included the following products which were alternated to reduce potential for development of disease resistance: Actiguard, Cabrio, Previcur Flex, Presidio, Pristine, Procure, Radiant, Ranman, Quadris and Quintec. These products are registered for use in this crop and were applied according to labeled rates that can be referenced in the North Carolina Agriculture Chemical Manual. Fungicides were applied every 7 to 14 days throughout the growing season beginning 8 July 2016 and repeated on the following dates: 15 and 29 July; 5, 12 and 26 September; 8 and 16 August 2016. Herbicides, Dual (1pt/ac) and Command (1pt/ac), were sprayed for weed control on 21 June 2016. Pumpkins were harvested on 6 October (107 days after planting). Yield per acre was calculated by extrapolating total yield from the 200 ft2 area of each plot. Five representative fruit from each plot were measured to find the average length and width of each cultivar. Pumpkin color, shape, and suturing; and handle length, thickness and attachment were rated subjectively for each plot.

Results

Pumpkin entries are discussed by size class and are organized in tables in alphabetical order. Results mentioned in the paragraphs below only correspond to the replicated cultivars.

Mini

Four cultivars were evaluated in the mini size class (≤ 5.0 lbs). Jack Sprat, Orangita and Sirius Star were all orange, while Casperita was white. Average fruit size ranged from 0.9 lbs for Casperita to 2.7 lbs for Jack Sprat (Table 1). The smallest fruit were produced by Casperita, while fruit size of Orangita and Sirius Star were very similar. Jack Sprat produced the largest fruit in the mini size category. Orangita produced the least total yield at 11.7 tons/acre and Sirius Star was the highest yielding cultivar in the mini size category at 32.7 tons/acre. Fruit shapes were mostly round with the exception of Orangita which is slightly flat to round. (Table 2). Casperita maintained its pure white color for several weeks before turning pale yellow.

Small

Four cultivars were evaluated in the ‘small’ size class (5.1 – 10.0 lbs). Fruit of these entries are all orange. Fruit size averages between 5.1 to 6.7 lbs with Field Trip being the smallest, followed by Early Abundance. ACR 1428 and Darling produced fruit with an average weight of 6.7 lbs (Table 1). These entries ranged between 10,003 (Early Abundance) and 15,165 (Darling) fruit number per acre. Field Trip ranked second in fruit per acre at 11, 293 followed by ACR 1428 that produced 10,567 fruit per acre. Darling had the highest total fruit weight and yield of all of the entries in the ‘small’ size category (Table 1). Fruit shapes range from flat to round (Field Trip) to Darling that is slightly taller and less round.

Medium

Eleven cultivars were evaluated in the ‘medium’ size class (10.1-25.0 lbs). Average fruit size in this category ranged between 13.9 to 24.1 lbs per fruit (Table 1). Eagle City Gold produced the highest fruit yield and fruit number in this size category. Fruit yields ranged from 40.6 tons/acre (ACR 7599) to 80.8 tons/acre (Ares). Ares produced the least fruit number per acre (4,840) and Eagle City Gold produced the greatest number of fruit per acre at 9,196 (Table 1). All fruit in this size category are orange with the exception of Blue Doll and Indian Doll (Figure 1). Fruit shapes range from slightly flat to round (Blue Doll and Indian Doll) to Ares, a taller pumpkin (Table 2).

Large

Figure 1. Pumpkin photographs start on page 6 of the pdf booklet.

Table 1. Pumpkin cultivar evaluation trial. Cumulative yield (tons) / acre, fruit number per acre and average fruit weight, Waynesville, NC, 2016.

Mini Size Class (≤ 5.0 lb)

Small size Class (5.1 – 10.0 lb)

Medium Size class (10.1 – 25.0 lb)

Large Size Class (≥ 25.1 lb)

Table 2.1. Pumpkin cultivar evaluation trial. Fruit and quality measurements for replicated cultivars. Waynesville, NC, 2016.

¹Color Scale: 1 = yellow, 5 = orange, 9 = burnt orange.
²Fruit Shape Rating: 1 = flat, 5 = round, 9 = tall.
³Fruit Suturing: 1 = none, 5 = medium, 9 = deep.
⁴Texture Rating: 1 = smooth, 5 = semi-rough, 9= rough.
⁵Vine Habit: 1 = bush, 2 = semi-bush, 3 = semi-vine, 4 = vine, 5 = aggressive vine
⁶Powdery Mildew Rating: 1 = None, 9 = Severe
*Observed and rated on 6 September 2016.

Table 2.2 Pumpkin cultivar evaluation trial. Fruit and quality measurements for replicated cultivars. Waynesville, NC, 2016.

⁷Handle Rating:
Thickness: 1 = thin, 5 = medium, 9 = thick.
Length: 1 = short, 5 = medium, 9 = long.
Attachment: 1 = poor, 5 = average, 9 = excellent.
⁸Fruit Measurements = Individual length and width, values (inches) were taken from 5 fruit per replication, (20 total), The LD ratio was determined by dividing fruit length by fruit width.
*NA = Fruit not orange colored.

Table 3. Pumpkin, Gourd/Winter Squash cultivar evaluation trial. Selected observations (non-replicated cultivars). Cumulative yield (tons) per acre, number fruit per acre and average fruit weight, Waynesville, NC, 2016.

Mini Size Class (≥ 5.0 lb)

Small Size Class (5.1 – 10.0 lb)

Medium Size Class (10.1 – 25.0 lb)

Large Size Class (≥ 25.0 lb)

Table 4.2. Pumpkin, Gourd/Winter Squash cultivar evaluation trial. Fruit and quality measurements for selected observation replicated cultivars. Waynesville, NC, 2016.

¹Color Scale: 1 = yellow, 5 = orange, 9 = burnt orange.
²Fruit Shape Rating: 1 = flat, 5 = round, 9 = tall.
³Fruit Suturing: 1 = none, 5 = medium, 9 = deep.
⁴Vine Habit: 1 = bush, 2 = semi-bush, 3 = semi-vine, 4 = vine, 5 = aggressive vine
⁵Powdery Mildew Rating: 1 = None, 9 = Severe; *Observed and rated on 6 September 2016.
*NA = Data not available.

Table 4.2. Pumpkin, Gourd/Winter Squash cultivar evaluation trial. Fruit and quality measurements for selected observation replicated cultivars. Waynesville, NC, 2016.

⁶Handle Thickness: 1 = thin, 5 = medium, 9 = thick.
⁷Handle Length: 1 = short, 5 = medium, 9 = long.
⁸Handle Attachment: 1 = poor, 5 = average, 9 = excellent.
⁹Fruit Measurements = Individual length and width
values (inches) were taken from 5 fruit per replication, (20 total), ¹⁰The LD ratio was determined by dividing fruit length by fruit width.