What Pumpkins Do Ohio Farms Grow?
When you buy a pumpkin in Ohio in October, it may well have been grown right here in the state. Ohio is a real pumpkin state, and the way Ohio farms grow and sell pumpkins is a little different from the big pumpkin states. Here is a quick look.
Ohio is a top pumpkin state
According to Ohio State University, Ohio ranks among the top 10 pumpkin-producing states in the country. Ohio State notes that pumpkin acreage here has been fairly steady over the past ten years, while the money growers earn swings from year to year with the weather and the market. Production is concentrated in northern Ohio.
There are a lot of growers, too. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that Ohio and Wisconsin each had between 960 and 970 farms growing pumpkins for the fresh market in the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
Nearly all of Ohio's pumpkins are sold fresh
This is the big difference. Illinois grows more pumpkins than any other state, and the USDA says nearly 70 percent of its pumpkin acreage goes to processing, the kind of pumpkin that ends up in a can. In Ohio it is the opposite. Ohio State says nearly all pumpkins grown here are sold fresh, and that demand is driven by farm visits and direct sales. That means grocery stores, farm markets and pick-your-own patches.
The kinds of pumpkins Ohio farms grow
Ohio growers raise far more than one orange pumpkin. Ohio State Extension has hosted pumpkin field nights for growers showing about 70 varieties, including jack-o-lantern pumpkins, colored pumpkins, pie pumpkins and specialty types. Our post on pumpkin types explained walks through what each kind is good for.
Those field nights also showed growers how varieties hold up against diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew. Ohio State lists hybrid selection, along with crop rotation, among the ways growers keep pests and disease in check.
Pie pumpkins are a good example of how varied the crop is. They are much smaller than carving pumpkins, usually about 6 to 8 inches across. Colored and specialty pumpkins, like the white, blue-gray and warty kinds, are part of the mix too, alongside the classic orange jack-o-lantern.
How the Ohio season works
Ohio State says pumpkins are typically planted here from late May through June. The weather over the summer decides a lot. In 2025, for example, a wet spring delayed planting in many areas and a midsummer dry spell followed. Ohio State expected an average to slightly below average yield, with heat and dry weather keeping some fruit from sizing up. Insects such as the striped cucumber beetle and squash bug were the bigger problem that year, while the drier weather held down some diseases. Ohio State also said large pumpkins could be in shorter supply or sell at a premium that year, since dry weather keeps fruit small.
In the fall, Ohio pumpkins move quickly from the field to farm markets, stores and porches. A healthy whole pumpkin can last weeks once it is set out, so our post on when to put pumpkins out in Ohio covers timing and first frost.
Why it matters to you
Knowing a little about how pumpkins are grown makes it easier to pick a good one. A fresh pumpkin is a good start, but how long it lasts on your porch still depends on how healthy it is and how you care for it. Look for a firm stem, a hard rind and no soft spots, and keep the bottom dry once it is home.
Questions about your pumpkins?
If you have a pumpkin question we did not cover here, we would be glad to help. Call or text us at (513) 409-0005, or send a message through our contact page. We are a family-run business right here in the Springboro, Dayton and Cincinnati area, and we are always happy to talk pumpkins.