While the calendar says fall, it feels more like summer. Highs have been in the upper 80s and low 90s. Limited rainfall has been the biggest issue recently. Since August many areas have had 0.5 inches or less of rain. We did get a break the last week of September when we got 1 to 2 inches of rain one night. We need more rain, but that gave some much needed relief.

Pumpkins over all have faired very well despite the weather. The lack of rain was a major issue, but the crop has actually done very well.

Viruses have been prevalent in many fields and have caused some yield and quality loss. The biggest challenge for this season has been the intense heat we had in mid-August. These 95 to 100º temperatures hit right when our pumpkin crop needed to be setting fruit for prime September harvest. Pumpkins do not set fruit very well under temperatures this high.

We had some fruit set before and after this time, but it definitely left a gap in fruit maturity. The upside is that the fruit quality and size is better than I expected for the weather. Diseases have been fairly limited and about average insect pressure. Hopefully the weather cooperates for the remainder of the fall harvest season!

Fall vegetables are still coming in, but many fall plantings have struggled to take off or get good emergence due to the dry weather up until last week. Apple harvest has been progressing. The crop has been average, and with the drought and weather, the crop has not been quite as good as originally thought earlier in the year.

Cover image: Pumpkin displaying virus symptoms. Photo credit: N. Johanning, Illinois Extension 2023.