Pumpkin crop looking strong despite drought

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - A Purdue Extension expert says Indiana's pumpkin crop has mostly fared well despite the drought that has gripped the Midwest, and consumers should have plenty of healthy pumpkins to choose from this fall.

Purdue Extension plant pathologist. Dan Engel says pumpkins germinated properly despite fears they would not, and the dryness protected them from many of the diseases that hurt them in wetter years.

Engel says a healthy pumpkin's stem should be as full and green as possible, rather than thin and brown. A green stem indicates a fresher pumpkin that likely was grown nearby. The best coloring of the pumpkin itself, however, depends on individual preferences.