Austria: Variety guide of oil pumpkins as it rushes from record to record

Oil squash is highly favored by tillers. According to Statistics Austria, the area under cultivation reached the previous high of 39,131 ha (+10.4%) in the previous year. There was an increase in area above all in Lower Austria, as well as in Upper Austria and Burgenland. In Styria, the area under cultivation has remained almost the same. Also noteworthy is the significant increase in organic areas, which last year accounted for 27% of the Austrian area under cultivation. As far as the yield results are concerned, a total of more than 25,564 t of pumpkin seeds were harvested last year (+11%). The average yield level of 6.5 dt/ha was at the level of 2020. The 2021 oil pumpkin season was characterized by the cool temperatures in May. There were emergence problems, especially in organic farming. In July, especially in the foothills of the Alps, an increased infestation of aphids was observed. Hail events and severe storms in some areas resulted in a reduced yield. On the other hand, ...