Mechernich (dpa / lnw) - It's getting colorful in the vegetable patch, the first pumpkins are ripe. The area under cultivation of the heavy fruit has increased significantly in North Rhine-Westphalia in recent years. In the five years up to 2020, the area for pumpkins has increased from 710 hectares to 826 hectares, according to the provincial association of Rheinischer fruit and vegetable growers in Bonn. The most important variety is the orange Hokkaido, which does not need to be peeled because the peel softens during cooking and can be eaten.
When it comes to ornamental gourds, the variety of shapes, colors and sizes is immense. Around 100,000 pieces are needed to build the "Wondrous Forest Creatures" that have been on display at the Krewelshof in the Eifel since Thursday. The pumpkins are shaped like mushrooms, squirrels or foxes. About 30 different varieties are grown on the farm. The harvest lasts until just before Halloween, when candlelit pumpkins with carved faces create a spooky mood in the dark.
