Texas pumpkins aplenty compared to 2023

AUSTIN (KXAN) — There will be plenty more pumpkins for fall 2024 compared to last year, but the yield is still below average.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has shared their annual yield numbers and production remains promising overall. There were higher rainfall totals in May and June during planting season, but drier conditions in July and August affected the yield overall.

2023 pumpkin production was down 20% to 40% last year due to drought conditions, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension experts said.

A majority of Texas pumpkins are grown in drier climates, such as West and South Texas.

"This year, we're only down about 10%, maybe 15% across the (Floyd) county, which is a lot better for our producers," Mark Carroll from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension said. "We had adequate rainfall in June and early July, and got the pumpkins growing really well, and so our production is closer to average than it has been the past few years."

While farmers would have preferred a bit more rainfall, too much would have harmed the pumpkin yield.

"All of our pumpkins in Floyd County are irrigated, and so we have to irrigate our fields," Carroll said. "There's nothing that replaces rainfall, so we have to have adequate rainfall. But in pumpkin production, too much rainfall can actually be a hindrance, because it can cause fungus on the plants, which then you have to spray to keep the fungus away from the pumpkins. So pumpkins do really well in a dry climate."

According to Carroll, the size of the pumpkins was also down slightly this year but, overall, there should be plenty to go around for pumpkin pie, Halloween decorations, and so much more.