Country Acres - October 21, 2023

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Saturday, October 21, 2023 | Country Acres • Page 1

Country Acres Saturday, Saturd day, October 21, 2023

Focusing g on on Today’s Tod To da ay’s Rural E Env Environment

Volume 10, Edition 15

BeYoNd

Wyatt Gerads, Russ Gerads, Carla Gerads, Polly Stish, Dave Stish and Nolan Gerads, of Triple S Pumpkins, hold their favorite pumpkin varieties, Mrs. Wrinkles, Cronus, Gumdrop, Field Trip, Scarface and Polar Bear respectively at their farm near Royalton. The farm provides more than 50 kinds of edible and decorative pumpkins and squash.

the patch

small amount of seeds Triple S Pumpkins offers and see if people like community learning, colorful fun it,” Carla Gerads said. BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

ROYALTON — Bright reds, blushing pinks, warm oranges, buttery yellows and deep greens dot the landscape at Triple S Pumpkins. The 220acre farm near Royalton is home to more than 50 varieties of edible and decorative pumpkins and squash. The farmers of Triple S Pumpkins, Carla and Russ Gerads, in partnership with Dave and Polly Stish, pride themselves on variety.

They carry all kinds of aptly named pumpkins from the Baby Boo and the Casperita — the smallest of the farm’s white pumpkins — to those with quirky names like Mrs. Wrinkles, a ribbed pumpkin, to Popcorn, complete with warts, and a medium-sized yellow number called Mellow Yellow. They also have a pink Porcelain Doll pumpkin, a red Cinderella pumpkin and tan pumpkins coined Long Island Cheese and Hot Chocolate. “We start with a

In total, the Geradses and Stishes put 33,000 seeds into the ground using a vacuum planter around Memorial Day of each year. Roughly 10 acres is planted with pumpkins and squash. Then, with the help of friends and family, they begin harvesting mid-September, cutting the pumpkins and squash off the vine. Squash and specialty items are stored in the farm store area or in bins in the open-air sales shed. Most of the pumpkins are left in the patch

for guests to pick their own. The team works together to find the unusual varieties, scouring seed catalogs and gleaning research from conferences and other farmers.

They sometimes choose seeds that will grow similarly but

each with a slightly different anticipated Gerads/Stish page 2

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

A variety of pumpkins adorn a vignette at Triple S Pumpkins near Royalton. There are places set up throughout the farm for families to pose for photos.

ST R

Publications bli ti The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.

This month in the

COUNTRY: Watch for the next edition of Country Acres on Nov. 4, 2023

5

Hitting the mark Benson

15 Country western twist St. Joseph

7

Chasing butterflies Tiffany Klaphake column

19 A careful fall Minnesota Hunting Safety

11 Changes through time Burtrum

21 Country cooking St. Anthony

22 There’s a creeper in the neighborhood Nancy Packard Leasman column 25 One more scream Glenwood


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