Ron McMillan was surprised when he heard reports that this year香蕉视频直播檚 pumpkin harvest in B.C. was turning out to be a bust.
From his vantage point at McMillan farms, the festive squash are in ample supply and ready for Kelowna residents to peruse and purchase when gates open this Saturday.
香蕉视频直播淭hey have a different situation in the Lower Mainland and on the Island than us,香蕉视频直播 said McMillan, referring to the reports that say supplies in those regions are down by at least 20 per cent due to the drought.
香蕉视频直播淭he type of hot, dry summer they had down there was same-as-always for us.香蕉视频直播
McMillan has drip irrigation so the pumpkins in his patch are able to deal with Okanagan heat. That香蕉视频直播檚 not to say there weren香蕉视频直播檛 some challenges.
香蕉视频直播淔or us the difference this year is we had a late start because of the spring,香蕉视频直播 McMillan said. 香蕉视频直播淭here were periods where it was cold and the plants weren香蕉视频直播檛 growing, then it would warm up, and get cold again.香蕉视频直播
The warm summer actually allowed the crop to catch up. And with a little fine-tuning, he香蕉视频直播檚 been able to raise the quantity and number of varieties in his patch.
香蕉视频直播淭his year we have 40 different kinds of pumpkins,香蕉视频直播 he said.
香蕉视频直播淓very year we try to retire a couple that aren香蕉视频直播檛 very good and come up with a couple different ones.香蕉视频直播
Pumpkins aren香蕉视频直播檛 the only new thing growing at the farm. They are also into the second year of their hop crop, which means they are one year from being good for harvest and used in local brews.
There are also a couple new activities set for the farm.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e going to have a roping station, where little kids can pretend they香蕉视频直播檙e lassoing a cow,香蕉视频直播 he said.
An expanded seating area will also greet visitors.
It香蕉视频直播檚 clear from recent years that anything they do will be well-received. Last year 10,000 people went through the farm during the five weeks it was open.
香蕉视频直播淓very year we have a few more people coming through,香蕉视频直播 he said. 香蕉视频直播淥n the weekend when we were setting up we had tourists from Belgium, Hamilton, Ontario and, of course, I had some from Penticton and the wider region stopping by,香蕉视频直播 he said.
Making the farm and experience that people can enjoy has been a successful endeavour, but it香蕉视频直播檚 not for everyone.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a difficult thing to get into,香蕉视频直播 he said. 香蕉视频直播淚f you can try to connect people to the farm in some way, so they can understand what goes on there and how you grow food 香蕉视频直播. when they see farm issues in the news it gives them a better understanding and that香蕉视频直播檚 important.香蕉视频直播