Knoxville pumpkin farmers are trying to fight through this summer’s drought so they can be prepared for the upcoming fall.

 

Dan-D Farms in Knoxville, which is well known in the area for its sweet corn, is looking ahead and hoping for a successful pumpkin harvest this fall. The entire state has been dealing with drought, which affects farming on many different levels. Sweet corn is a staple in Iowa this time of year and local residents might say Dan Dennison produces the best there is, but at Dan-D’s it is never too early to look ahead to the fall. 

 

Dennison’s daughter Debra Kearney, who runs the pumpkin patch and Christmas tree greenhouse part of the operation, says drought can affect the pumpkin growing process, but it also depends on timing. 

 

“Pumpkins are pretty drought resistant. The biggest thing is they kind of just hold so they do wait for that rain but they’re not rapidly growing like we want them to and they’re not putting the fruit on like we want them to. Right now we feel like we’re in a pretty good spot but the forecast the next week or so looks pretty hot.” 

 

Hear more from Dennison and Kearney on an upcoming Let’s Talk Knoxville.