This year, Maynard Welscherís pumpkin crop was about 10 days ahead of schedule.

"We had a good year of pumpkins," he said.

He and his wife Mary spent last Saturday and Sunday picking the roughly 250 pumpkins they raise on their rural Caledonia farm.

Maynard Welscher said he started growing the fruit 20 years ago and the operation just kept growing, so to speak.

"Our kids started to take them, pretty soon it was grandkids," he said.

Mary Welscher said even the older grandchildren take the pumpkins.

"Weíve got 32 grandkids, so that takes quite a few," she said.

The couple sells the rest at Mary Annís Floral and Gift Shop.

Maynard Welscher said they have learned over the years that you have got to rotate the patch so the pumpkins do well

"Theyíre just like raising other crops," he said.

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Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
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