The farmers' worst enemy is powdery mildew. This fungus spreads like wildfire, killing leaves and in turn, the plants.

Bishop's Pumpkin Farm of Wheatland, California It features the largest U-pick pumpkin farm within the U.S., a petting zoo and even a zipline.

All in, including expenses like seeds fertilizer, labor, marketing, and insurance, Reiners says the typical overhead incurred by a pumpkin farmer might amount to $3k-$4.5k per acre. But if pumpkins manage to survive this minefield of natural elements, the harvest can be well worth it.