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Pumpkin Field Picking 2024

Fri 4th Oct - Sun 20th Oct (closed mondays).

Tickets £4.50 per person +bf*

*unlike our Summer Pick Your Own, this is an entry fee to our fields, rather than a redeemable token. Pumpkins are not included in the ticket price.

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Visit us to pick pumpkins directly from our growing fields. Pumpkin picking finishes on 20th October. This is to protect our crop from ground frost damage so we can present our pumpkins for sale in the best possible condition

 
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Pumpkin picking £4.50 + bf

Entry by advance booking only, We strongly recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment as our Pumpkin Picking has sold out for the last four years.

Pumpkin picking ticket includes;

  • Entry to our picking fields (sorry no dogs) and access to a huge array of homegrown Pumpkins and squashes of all shapes, sizes and colours.
  • There are fun photo opportunities in our fields fun displays and quirky installations.
  • Please note; Pumpkins are chargeable separately at the exit and are not included in the entry price.
  • Entry to the Avant Garden, covered seating area, bar, garden games, customer toilets (ticket holders only).
  • Free parking in the farm car park

* Pumpkin Picking is an outdoor event on a farm in Autumn, sadly we are not able to change or refund your booking in the event of poor weather.

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Street food vendors

During our Pumpkin Picking weekends there will be pop-up street food vendors on site on 12th/13th and 19th/20th October.

This year, we're super happy to welcome back Killa Waffles and The Dough Shack

Booking for Pumpkin Picking

£4.50 entry + bf.

One ticket is required for everyone over the age of 1. Please book an infant ticket for those under 1.

  • Bookings are for a timed entry, please arrive at the time shown on your booking.
  • Parking, your pumpkin picking entry includes free parking on site. Please use our field car park rather than the Garden Centre car park as the Garden Centre is an entirely separate business with different parking restrictions.
  • Wheelbarrows. We have a limited amount available in the fields only! please feel free to bring your own trolley or cart to save waiting for a wheelbarrow.
  • Don't forget, bags to carry your pumpkins back to the car are essential. We don't provide carrier bags.
  • Buggies aren't allowed into our fields, they can be safely left at the entry kiosk.
  • Dogs aren't allowed into our picking fields. Unlike other 'Pumpkin Patches', we actually open up our growing fields for you to pick pumpkins from. Dogs aren't permitted entry under Environmental Health regulations, however dogs on leads are welcome to our outdoor Pumpkin Boutiqe, (an outdoor sales area, separate from our growing fields.
  • Rain. Please remember you're booking to visit a working farm in October. There's a reasonable chance of rain at some point. We can't refund or reschedule your booking if it rains, wear wellies!
  • No Food & Drink Please don't bring your own food or picnics onto the farm. We've tried our best to be accomodating in the past but end up being overwhelmed with litter.
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Pumpkin Picking FAQ's

For information on our Pumpkin crop including tips on how to care for your Pumpkin, please visit our Pumpkin Crop Page

Are Pumpkins included in the ticket price?

No, unlike the Summer pick your own, Pumpkin tickets are an entry charge and are not redeemable against crops. This is because Pumpkin Picking is a different, shorter event, with significantly higher setup and running costs. 

When should I visit?

As early as possible! Typically most people like to visit the Farm in late October. However, Pumpkin picking finishes in mid October. After this time we move all of our pumpkins to the more sheltered Pumpkin Market to protect them from ground frost damage.

Will my Pumpkin last if I buy it early?

Yes! Undamaged pumpkins can last a very long time, but please remember they are still a perishable crop. Your pumpkin will last until you are ready to carve it if you leave it untouched in a cool dark place.

Do I need to book just for Pumpkin Picking?

Yes, booking is essential, there are only a limited number of spaces available.

Can I just turn up and pay on the door?

No. Whilst there may be a small amount of 'no shows' Pumpkin picking is very popular and we frequently sell out.

Are there toilets available?

Yes. There are toilet facilities available for Pumpkin Picking customers with a valid booking.

There are event toilets available during our Pumpkin Festival and events.

Is there parking available?

Yes, there is plenty of parking available on The Farm for customers visiting Farm customers must use The Farm field car park rather than the Garden Centre car park which is a separate business.

Click here for directions and travel information.

Can I bring a buggy?

No, sadly because of damage to our irrigation systems and a minority of customers using buggies to steal crops we no longer allow buggies into our picking fields.

Can I bring a picnic?

No, Food and drink may not be bought to The Farm. We've tried our best to accommodate this in the past, but sadly have been overwhelmed with litter. Food and drink are available to purchase in Crockford's Corner.

Can I bring my dog?

No, dogs are not allowed into our picking fields for hygiene reasons.

Can I carve my Pumpkin?

No, there are no carving facilities  during our Pumpkin Picking, this is only at the Pumpkin Festival.

What if it rains?

Inclement weather is part and parcel of life on the farm, particularly in the last week of October. We don't close when it rains and suggest customers consider this before booking tickets for an outdoor event.

 Tickets are non refundable whatever the weather and we're unable to re-book your tickets should it rain on the day of your visit.

In our experience there's no such thing as poor weather, simply poor preparation. Over the years, thousands of customers who've come prepared and suitably dressed enjoy our events, whatever the weather!

Met Office weather warnings

Regardless of Weather Warnings (which are often precautionary), we will take a decision on whether it is safe to open based on actual conditions.

In the unlikely event we're forced to close the fields due to extreme weather this will be publicised on Social Media and via email to ticket holders.

Customers should check with us directly before assuming we're closed. Tickets will only be re-booked or refunded in the unlikely event we close.

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Caring for your pumpkin

Pumpkins will last for months if you store them correctly and don't cut into them.Many customers prefer to vist early in October when we have the widest selection available.

  • Don't carry Pumpkins by the stalk! As we don't have to pack our pumpkins into shipping containers we're able to leave them with lovely long handles but these can be fragile so it's best not to hold pumpkins by their stalk.
  • Store your pumpkins out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry environment until you're ready to carve it. Traditionally gourds and squashes were safely stored this way to provide a source of food throughout the Winter months.
  • Once your pumpkin is cut open it will begin to oxidise and spoil quite quickly. We recommend you leave carving your pumpkin as late as possible. Should you need to carve your pumpkin in advance, storing it in a fridge will help to slow down the spoilage.

Pumpkin facts

Pumpkins (curcubita)

Pumpkins are a member of the Squash family that were first cultivated in the Americas before being bought to England by returning explorers.

We grow a wide varieties of Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes from tiny munchkins to massive 'Atlantic Giants' we also grow a variety of different sizes of white 'Ghost' pumpkins.

The tradition of carving faces into pumpkins was thought to have originated in Ireland where faces were traditionally carved into turnips as part of the Gaelic festival of Samhain.

Like many other crops, Pumpkins originate from Central America.

Pumpkins can grow to massive sizes and in some parts of the world Pumpkin growing is a competitive sport. In 2021 a world record was set in Italy with a pumpkin weighing 1226 kg crowned as the worlds heaviest Pumpkin. The winners of these competitions can sell their pumpkins seeds for thousands of pounds to growers and enthusiasts.

Pumpkin Pie Recipe

1 750g pumpkin, peeled, de-seeded and cut into chunks.
350g sweet shortcrust pastry. plain flour, for dusting.
140g caster sugar.
½ tsp salt.
½ tsp fresh nutmeg, grated.
1 tsp cinnamon.
2 eggs, beaten. 25g butter,
melted. 175ml milk.
1 tbsp icing sugar.

Method

  1. Place the pumpkin in a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 mins or until tender. Drain pumpkin and let it cool.
  2. Heat oven to 180C. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use it to line a 22cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Chill for 15 mins. Line the pastry with baking parchment and baking beans and blind bake for 15 mins. Remove the beans and paper, and cook for a further 10 mins until the base is pale golden and biscuity. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly
  3. Increase oven to 220C. Push the cooled pumpkin through a sieve into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, salt, nutmeg and half the cinnamon. Mix in the beaten eggs, melted butter and milk, then add to the pumpkin purée and stir to combine. Pour into the tart shell and cook for 10 mins, then reduce the temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Continue to bake for 35-40 mins until the filling has just set.
  4. Leave to cool, then remove the pie from the tin. Mix the remaining cinnamon with the icing sugar and dust over the pie. Serve chilled