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Pumpkins ripening early in heat, but will be fine for Halloween

Fields are turning orange as blasting summer heat is ripening pumpkins earlier than ever at the six-generation Michell Bros. Farm on the Saanich Peninsula. But don’t worry. The pumpkins are fine.
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Worker Courtney Cook surveys the pumpkin patch at Michell Bros. Farm along the Pat Bay Highway on Thursday.

Fields are turning orange as blasting summer heat is ripening pumpkins earlier than ever at the six-generation Michell Bros. Farm on the Saanich Peninsula.

But don’t worry. The pumpkins are fine. They will continue ripening to a brighter orange-red soon and will last until Halloween, Vern Michell said Thursday.

This low humidity and dry weather hardens the shells of the pumpkins, he said.

“If the shell has hardened, they will last a very long time.”

Similar weather in 2015 meant that crop was also early. “We were worried last year if they would keep well until Halloween and they did. This year, they are maybe a day or two earlier. The weather conditions have been similar, so we are not looking to any real problems.”

Last year’s crop was ready Sept. 1 and Michell predicts this year’s will be slightly earlier if the weather remains unchanged.

Michell Bros. sells pumpkins at the farm and to local supermarkets. Children usually choose pumpkins of three to four kilograms out of the field at the corner of the Patricia Bay Highway and Island View Road, Michell said. Soil on that site retains moisture.

Larger pumpkins from other Michell fields will be picked soon and taken to that field to give people a choice of sizes.

At the family-owned Gobind Farms, 6929 Veyaness Rd., pumpkins were planted a little later this year to avoid early ripening, said Satnam Dheenshaw. “Ours are not orange yet,” he said, adding that they will be ripe in October.

About 20 kinds of pumpkins are growing at Galey Farms Corn Maze, Market & Railway, 4150 Blenkinsop Rd., where farmer Rob Galey also planted two weeks later than usual this year because he anticipated another hot season.

Planting used to take place in the first or second week of May, but this year it happened after the May long weekend, he said.

“The climate has changed and we are changing along with it,” said Galey.

Most Galey’s pumpkins are sold during its annual October festivals. He grows tens of thousands of pumpkins. Variations include pumpkins that look like they are covered in warts, and different shapes and colours, including pink, blue and white.