Climate change has Saanich farmer Rob Galey rethinking how heB次元官网网址檒l grow pumpkins next year.
The traditional growing method is to give the pumpkin patch - Galey Farms grew 13 acres of them this year - three watering sessions per year. Normally, Mother Nature does the rest. But as Galey has learned, Mother NatureB次元官网网址檚 not acting like she used to.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e lucky we increased our crops to 13 acres of pumpkins from 10 acres, because we are down about 20 per cent in pumpkins,B次元官网网址� Galey said.
With warmer, dryer summers becoming a regular occurrence, Galey has had to rethink how to store 40,000 pumpkins, which ripened far earlier than they used to in the drought of 2015. With school tours booked to take away about 10,000, and more going to wholesale, itB次元官网网址檚 imperative the pumpkins can be kept in cool, dry place.
Now, after another dry summer and a new problem popping up, heB次元官网网址檚 rethinking how to grow them.
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B次元官网网址淲ithout any rainfall we had to water the pumpkins a fourth time, and that set off a major crop of weeds in the [pumpkin patch],B次元官网网址� Galey said.
Pigweed four-feet-high tangled among dense clumps of lambB次元官网网址檚 quarters blocked out the sun on the leaves, stunting the growth of the pumpkins.
B次元官网网址淲e couldnB次元官网网址檛 go in and weed-eat or we would have knocked the flowers and fruit off the plants,B次元官网网址� Galey said.
The same thing has taken place up the road at the Michell Bros. farm in Central Saanich, who do about 20 acres of pumpkins.
B次元官网网址淎nything that didnB次元官网网址檛 get enough water is down 10 to 15 per cent,B次元官网网址� Terry Michell said.
Costs are increasing, said Galey and Michell, though Galey will keep the same price scheme. The Michells are considering a five per cent increase.
B次元官网网址淭he price of everything is up, water and fertilizer, and we used more water [due to the water],B次元官网网址� Michell said.
Both farms inventory the pumpkins in 850-pound bins. For MichellB次元官网网址檚, most of that goes to wholesale such as Fairway Market, Red Barn and Country Grocer.
Both farms are popular U-pick destinations, with GaleyB次元官网网址檚 known for itB次元官网网址檚 Pumpkinfest with train rides, haunted houses, corn maze and petting zoo.
ItB次元官网网址檚 not all bad news with the pumpkins, Galey said, as the shells are stronger than usual.
B次元官网网址淟ast year they all went mushy but not this year,B次元官网网址� Galey said. B次元官网网址淵ou can buy your pumpkin early just keep it in the garage or basement, away from frost.B次元官网网址�
