How to Grow Pumpkins Commercially in Tennessee
Selling pumpkins can be a viable and enjoyable business option in the state of Tennessee. Farmers must understand not only best practices of farming, but also the rules and regulations surrounding the sale of food and food products in Tennessee. Understanding the growing and selling process will help prospective farmers undertake the task with greater chances of success. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Design your business model. Your model has a great deal of impact on how you'll grow and sell your pumpkins. Will yours be a "pick-your-own" operation, where families come to pick their Halloween jack-o-lanterns? Want to sell at farmer's markets or roadside stands? Want to sell to grocery store chains? Know your customer base from the beginning, and you will increase your chances of success.
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Make sure you're legal. Call your city and county planning commissions and ask them about local zoning and licensing requirements for your area. Visit TN.gov online and call the Tennessee Agricultural Extension agency in your county to make sure you comply with state and federal law.
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Ask for help. Small businesses in Tennessee, and especially small businesses with a focus in agritourism, are eligible for state, government and locally funded help during the startup period. Start with the Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA), a cooperative effort between the Farm Bureau and the University of Tennessee. Visit their website and call the CPA for the latest advice on available funding.
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Plant your pumpkins. Choose several varieties based on your business model and your growing space. Place four or five seeds in a circle on a mound of dirt, 6 to 8 inches apart, and cover with 1 1/2 inches of soil. Mounds should be spaced at least 10 feet apart in a sunny location. Keep the ground moist, watering if you notice the soil beginning to dry. In order to take advantage of Halloween and Thanksgiving markets, plant pumpkins by the middle of June to make sure they are ripe in time.
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Grow your pumpkins with your business model in mind, whether that means organic growing practices or chemical fertilizers. Do you need a "natural" pick-your-own environment? Or should you carefully cultivate that ideal jack-o-lantern by placing your pumpkins upright on shingles or plastic as they grow? Guard vigorously against typical Tennessee insects, such as squash bugs, using a method compatible with your model. Use organic or chemical pesticides, or keep chickens or guinea fowl in the pumpkin patch.
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Sell your pumpkins. Whether you choose the pick-your-own model and host "fall festival" events, sell at roadside stands or one of the many Tennessee farmer's markets, or sell to retail outlets, getting the pumpkins into your customer's hands is the key to success. Use word of mouth, simple signage at or near your farm, and marketing in Tennessee magazines and newspapers to get the word out.
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Plan for the next growing season. Ask your local agricultural extension service about the most useful crop rotation models for your area.
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Tips & Warnings
Maximize your chances for success throughout the growing season by growing a variety of vegetables. Plan your planting and harvesting schedule so that you have products to sell throughout the year.
Farming can be a precarious enterprise. Be certain you have adequate funding and an impeccable business plan to improve your chances of success; expect hard work to be a part of the process.
References
- Hobby Farms; Five Ways to Make Money in Agritourism; Barbara Sheridan
- Tennessee Department of Agriculture: Permits, Licenses, and Regulatory Issues
- University of Tennessee: Center for Profitable Agriculture
- Lucky Ladd Farms: Want to Start Your Very Own Pumpkin Patch at Home?
- University of Tennessee Extension: Local Offices
Resources
- IPM Centers; Crop Profile for Pumpkins in Tennessee; July 2000
- Pick Your Own: Pick Your Own Farms in Tennessee
- Glasgow Daily Times; Local Pumpkin Farmer Shares Secrets of Success; Gina Glasglow; September 2010
- Hobby Farm; On The Road; Sue Weaver
- Pick Your Own: Can I Sell My Home-Canned Salsa, Jam, and Other Preserves?
- Agritourism and the Tennessee; Agritourism Initiative; Megan L. Bruch; April 2008
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
