The leaves are turning, the days are getting shorter and there’s a chill in the air. You know what that means: it’s pumpkin time! For the prettiest pumpkins around, bundle up the kiddos and head to Weaver’s Orchard in Morgantown, just outside of Reading, for an afternoon of family pumpkin-picking. Weaver’s crop of Halloween pumpkins ranges in size from a few inches to several feet around, so you’ll be sure to find just the right one to meet your decorating and carving needs. (And the photo opps are fantastic!)
Pumpkin 411
But first, a little pumpkin education. You probably started thinking about heading to the pumpkin patch when you saw that first leaf change color, but the folks at Weaver’s have been doing pumpkin prep for months. The reason? When it comes to pumpkins, timing is essential. Pumpkins must be planted at just the right time, usually the end of May or the first week in June. Planting too early could yield a pumpkin crop in August, when no one is ready to think about fall. The timing of the harvest also has to be right. Harvest too early and the pumpkins will sit around and start to decay.
Mother Nature is a factor as well. Cool summer weather may not be great for heading to the beach, but it’s wonderful for pumpkin production. When it’s too hot, the blossoms close and are not as receptive to pollination, so a cooler summer means that more of the plants pollinate.
And while most people think orange when they think pumpkin, Weaver’s is home to many varieties—and even colors!—of pumpkins. A newer variety, the American Tondo Squash, features green and yellow vertical stripes and an interesting texture. It’s great for decorating and is edible too.
Pick the Perfect Pumpkin
You made it to the pumpkin patch and you’re ready to pick. Here’s how to choose one that’s ripe and ready to go home with you. First, look for a good amount of yellow-green leaves, which surround ripe pumpkins. You should also seek out a healthy green handle. You don’t want one that’s brown and dried because that means the pumpkin won’t last long.
Found one you like? Drum on the pumpkin lightly and listen for a hollow sound. This means it’s ready to be picked. If the pumpkin’s skin is hard when you press on it and almost feels like a shell, that’s also a sign that it’s ripe. Keep in mind, too, that size doesn’t matter. A teeny-tiny pumpkin can be just as ripe and ready as a jumbo one.
In case you’re wondering why the pumpkins are sitting in the patch already detached from their vines, here’s the reason: pumpkin stems can be prickly, so the staff at Weaver’s comes through with pruning shears to cut pumpkin handles from the vine. By the time you reach the field with your family, pumpkin-picking is mostly a matter of selecting the one you want—without any boo-boos!
More Than Just Pie
Pumpkins aren’t just for jack-o’-lanterns, you know. Even though Weaver’s devotes most of its pumpkin acreage to the kind you love to carve, the orchard also recognizes that more and more customers are looking for edible pumpkins. That’s why they grow Fairytale pumpkins (those interesting-looking flat ones) and others that are just perfect for whipping up in your favorite fall dish.
Speaking of which, you know we couldn’t end without sharing some of Weaver’s best pumpkin recipes with you. From cakes and cookies to muffins and (of course) pie, these no-fail dishes will get you into the autumn spirit:
Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee Frappe and Pumpkin Syrup
Pumpkin Ginger Ice Cream Pie and Pumpkin Muffins
Pumpkin Sheet Cake
Pumpkin-Spice Maple Latte Syrup and Pumpkin Apple Bread
Cooked Pumpkin Puree and Fairytale Pumpkin Cookies
We encourage everyone to head to Weaver’s and enjoy this beautiful fall weather while it lasts. Happy pumpkin-picking!
Visit Weaver’s Orchard at 40 Fruit Ln., Morgantown; phone: (610) 856-7300.
- Photography: Weaver's Orchard
