VERSAILLES, Ky. (LEX 18) — Central Kentucky orchards are gearing up for their busy fall season, but the prolonged heat wave has made for some extra challenges.
Eckert's Orchard General Manager Megan Fields says they're prepared for their busy season, whenever that should come.
“It's 100% all weather related. So if it's hot people are thinking about pool and lake and not necessarily about picking,” said Fields.
She says they usually get really busy in the fall, with people coming to pick apples, take home pumpkins and take part in other activities like their corn maze.
Fields says some cooler, wetter weather would be a good thing for business, and their crops.
“Ideally we would have rain at least once a week, a good, gentle soaking rain is always good for crops, and then definitely not temperatures in the 90s,” said Fields.
Employees say while there will be enough for customers, some of their crops like pumpkins have been affected by the hot and dry weather.
“Our pumpkin is doing very well other than the hot weather it does slow the growth of them, so they're not going to be as large as last year because of the rain we got. The sunshine is helping the apples be good and sweet,” said Fields.
Fields says they've had to use a drip-irrigation system to make sure their crops, including their newly planted strawberries, have enough water. But that tends to run up their bill.
“We do have to use quite a bit of water to keep things going up,” said Fields.
She says they're hoping mother nature will help them out soon.
Their fall Pumpkin Festival starts on September 27th. For more information about festivities at Eckert’s Orchard, click here.
