Brownsburg pumpkin patch battles soil, weather problems ahead of opening day

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - It's been yet another hot and dry summer across the state. With fall just around the corner, Hogan Farms in Brownsburg is doing all it can to ring in the season safely. 




Last year was a harsh reality, making it clear that change needed to happen.




"We had a little bit over half our field go bad on us," farm manager Stacy Bonner said. 




The farm has been growing its pumpkins in Danville this year after soil conditions nearly ruined last season's crop.




"[They'll] still be the same quality and same volume, just from a different field," Bonner said. 




The weather is also not playing in their favor, something that's been true for the last couple of years.




"It's hard to know when to plant," Bonner said. "If you're going to have a cool, wet year, you can plant later. If it's going to be hot and dry, you need to plant earlier, so it's something they have to watch year over year. That was part of it last year, they got a little too hot too fast."




Where the heat's a concern for plants, the dryness can be a fire hazard. That's another thing Hogan Farms is keeping in mind ahead of opening day.




"We always coat our hay bales that we use for seeding with fire-proof spray," Bonner said. " ...




We'll walk the front of the corn field and spray that as well so that any embers that float won't get into the super dry area."




The farm also has a no-smoking rule to protect the fields turned corn maze for the season, and has plans in place for if the unthinkable were to happen.




"Down the street, about two blocks, there's a water truck," Bonner said. "We keep it full and ready to go in case we need to run down and get it."




Piles of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes have survived the unideal weather. Bonner said the soil and weather-related challenges have yet to dim their excitement for the 2025 season.




"Plants want to grow, things want to live, so if you get them in the right place at the right time, they do pretty good," Bonner said. 




Hogan Farms will get set up this weekend for their opening day on Sept. 27. Bonner said guests will get to experience new attractions sent from Disney itself.





via: https://fox59.com/news/brownsburg-pumpkin-patch-battles-soil-weather-problems-ahead-of-opening-day/