PIKETON, Ohio — Just in time for the upcoming fall harvest, pumpkin growers can learn more about 70 varieties of jack-o-lantern, colored pumpkins, pie pumpkins and specialty pumpkin cultivars during a Sept. 15 field night offered by horticultural experts with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
Held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at The Ohio State University South Centers, 1864 Shyville Road, Piketon, the Pumpkin Field Day will also offer growers the newest research on pumpkin pest and disease control, said Charissa Gardner, program assistant with South Centers.
“The workshop is designed for anyone that grows pumpkins currently, or anyone that is interested in starting to grow them,” Gardner said. “In addition to offering information on pumpkin crop management, we’ll also offer growers information on pumpkin disease screening for resistance to powdery mildew, downy mildew, anthracnose and white speck.”
Brad Bergefurd, an Ohio State University Extension educator, will lead the field night. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college. The South Centers are also a part of the college.
In addition to a walking tour of the center’s pumpkin variety evaluations and field research trials, the field night will include information on integrated pest management techniques, Israeli drip irrigation management and a new cooperative pumpkin marketing opportunity for Ohio growers.
The field night is free and open to the public and includes refreshments. The deadline to register is Sept. 13. For more information or to register, contact Gardner at 740-289-2071, ext. 132.
WRITER(S):
Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
turner.490@osu.edu
SOURCE(S):
Charissa Gardner
740-289-2071, ext. 132
gardner.1148@osu.edu