Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"Pumpkin picking" WTF

388 replies

HauntedGusset · 29/10/2023 17:21

Driving home from a visit to family today there was an absolutely massive traffic jam caused by cars entering/leaving a farm shop that also has a small events centre attached. I last passed the farm shop a few weeks ago and they had some other event on with cars parked all over the field nearest the road. Anyway today the same field was covered in huge pumpkins with families trudging round in the mud "picking" them - but they didn't grow there, they can't have done as the same field was a car park last month Confused They've just been plonked there. Someone tell me why this is a thing?

(And no, I don't have small DC anymore so I suppose I've missed this becoming popular, I was vaguely aware people pick pumpkins but imagined it to be like picking strawberries where you actually pick them fresh from the plant, not like a crapper muddier version of just buying one from Lidl!)

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 29/10/2023 20:11

There's a place near me that's more about photos than PYO.
Every weekend my feeds are full of people doing whatever this venue's latest PYO offering is. I honestly get the impression people must spend their time waiting for the hay bales, props, frame, seasonal arch, seasonal display posing areas to become free because every family I know who goes does an upload of identical photos.

The price is extortionate in my opinion but it's a nice day out and if people are willing to spend a small fortune for an overpriced item of fruit/veg and some photos then they're welcome to it. It's harmless and fun.

UpInYourHead · 29/10/2023 20:10

It’s all a load of rubbish. Better to just get out for a walk.

Erm, you do know that you can do both, don’t you? 🤣

Iactuallydidit · 29/10/2023 20:09

I have kids and think it’s ridiculous 🙈. We don’t bother with it and kids haven’t complained. But then each to their own, I can see why it’s a nice family day out….a think a lot are probably just doing it for the ‘insta’ moment though

theleafandnotthetree · 29/10/2023 20:08

GoodOldEmmaNess · 29/10/2023 17:39

Seriously? They aren't actually grown there? Bloody hell, there is a pumpkin picking farm diversification business activity just round the corner from me and I had absolutely assumed they were grown there. If this is not the case I feel like flipping giving up on the human race. What a completley barren, stupid, nihilstic thing to do, paddling about in the mud pretending to be harvesting when you are actually just buying stuff from outdoor supermarket aisles. Please, aliens, invade and destoy us. We have had our time.

I'm sorry but this made me laugh so hard....so long as there are people like you there's hope for us surely! I REGULARLY invoke the 'we've had our time' with eyes cast to heaven. Increasingly regularly....🙄

EvilElsa · 29/10/2023 20:08

It does make me laugh (I've had loads of parent friends showing off their "picked" pumpkins on Instagram) BUT they all seem to have had fun, so what's the harm. Other than being absolutely covered in mud that is!

SoShallINever · 29/10/2023 20:07

It's hilarious isn't it! But my friend has a farm, it's been a lifesaver for them this year.
We grow our own every year and pumpkin plants are bloody huge, like triffids. They take over the lawn.

landbeforegrime · 29/10/2023 20:05

People are weird. COL crisis and people will pay for this rubbish. I get picking them from the vine and we have taken our 3 yo every year so far but I feel a mug for paying to get into the field previously. This year went to a different place that was free entry, pumpkins grown on site and pumpkins were cheaper than the supermarket. I wouldn't go again if we had to pay to get in and I definitely wouldn't go anywhere that just puts pumpkins in a field. It's nothing like buying xmas trees from a garden centre. The comparison is buying pumpkins from a supermarket. It's actually like going to a muddy field, paying to go in and picking an xmas tree that you could've bought for less at a garden centre as opposed to going to an xmas tress farm, picking your growing tree in a forest and cutting it down (or more likely getting someone helpful who works there to cut it down for you).

Notjustabrunette · 29/10/2023 20:04

there is a place near me that does this. Also has some fair ground rides etc, looks nice. we were going to go, but was chucking it down so we went bowling, then picked some pumpkins up from tesco instead. I think it’s turned into a FOMO thing.

Lovetotravel123 · 29/10/2023 20:00

It’s all a load of rubbish. Better to just get out for a walk.

JudgeJ · 29/10/2023 19:58

fluffypotatoes · 29/10/2023 17:31

Fair enough! Maybe this is the target. Gets the kids in the countryside and mud so that can only be good

Show quote history

The 'target' is very simple, £££££££££££££££££ !

It does 'make memories' though, I remember my granddaughter, almost 3, being taken into a pumpkin shop to choose one, she chose one, dropped it to the floor and almost broke her toes trying to kick it. She thought it was a football!

sunnyseed · 29/10/2023 19:58

mathanxiety · 29/10/2023 18:43

The plants are sturdy vines with whopping great leaves, that grow along the ground. People would trip and fall over them and also break the vines, meaning unripe pumpkins still growing would die. Leaving out nice ripe pumpkins to be chosen is a much better idea.

Yes, but the perpetually offended need something to froth about 😂

DrMarshaFieldstone · 29/10/2023 19:58

Jellykat · 29/10/2023 19:47

Hardly patronising to point out its a commercial venture geared towards Halloween tourism, not what i'd call 'wholesome' FlissyPaps! 🙄

’Wholesome’ doesn’t mean ‘authentically reflective of farming life’ though, does it? We don’t let six-year-olds administer foot-and-mouth inoculations or massage cows’ udders to help avoid mastitis on their trips to family farms either.

sunnyseed · 29/10/2023 19:55

FrogFighter · 29/10/2023 19:19

No, no one is saying ‘it should be banned’!! Only if people personally think this is a good value, fun day our or not. Calm down 😆.

Show quote history

Wow, so sorry my comment triggered you so much! Calm down deary 😂

Tandora · 29/10/2023 19:55

Omg is this what pumpkin picking is?? I assumed it was to pick them off the plant 😂

FlissyPaps · 29/10/2023 19:53

Jellykat · 29/10/2023 19:47

Hardly patronising to point out its a commercial venture geared towards Halloween tourism, not what i'd call 'wholesome' FlissyPaps! 🙄

That’s your opinion. You don’t find it wholesome. But others do. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

There’s no need to try and bring someone down because they enjoy it and you don’t. What a childish and snobbish attitude to have. Gross.

CandyLeBonBon · 29/10/2023 19:52

Jellykat · 29/10/2023 19:47

Hardly patronising to point out its a commercial venture geared towards Halloween tourism, not what i'd call 'wholesome' FlissyPaps! 🙄

How would you like people to earn a living then? What, in your opinion, is an acceptable and suitably wholesome venture to ensure folk like you aren't offended by such commercial claptrap (hint-most occupations are based around commercial gain!)

HalloweenGrinch · 29/10/2023 19:52

I'm with the naysayers. I don't hate the idea of families paying for a nice day out but growing things on useful land using pesticides and petrochemical fertilisers, truck those same veg to a random field, then the veg that will mostly go to landfill, and decompose to create a whole load of methane seems a massive and pointless waste of human and planetary resources to me.

Although at least pumpkins aren't made of plastic (bad for the planet) or sugar (bad for the people) like all the other Halloween tat. It fills me with inexpressible sense of doom.

And then here comes Christmas <hides under the duvet>

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/23/pumpkin-waste-uk-halloween-lanterns

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/10/halloween-pumpkins-food-waste-energy/

Are Halloween pumpkins a problem for the planet?

Rotting pumpkins and other holiday waste thrown into landfill contribute to greenhouse gases – but there are many ways our lanterns can live on.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/10/halloween-pumpkins-food-waste-energy

Original poster
HauntedGusset · 29/10/2023 19:50

ThanksItHasPockets · 29/10/2023 19:42

Claiming that your children would have been too clever to enjoy pumpkin picking is either the zenith or the nadir of MN snobbery, depending on your perspective. Imagine not only having that thought but writing it down and publishing it to an audience of millions.

Who said that? Certainly not me! My DC are past that stage now, and it wasn't a thing when they were small so as I said I'm very much not the target market. I do think it is a bit odd to dump pumpkins in a muddy field and then have people pay to queue up and go and get them back out again, but it sounds like the one I saw today was a particularly shite example and there are better ones out there!

Also judging by the DC's reaction when I last asked them to help me dig the garden, they are too lazy for such things rather than too clever Grin

OP posts:
Jellykat · 29/10/2023 19:47

Hardly patronising to point out its a commercial venture geared towards Halloween tourism, not what i'd call 'wholesome' FlissyPaps! 🙄

UpInYourHead · 29/10/2023 19:44

Most kids will be more excited with a farm trip in their wellies to get a pumpkin, than going to Lidl. And what’s wrong with a bit of mud?

As for the anti America stuff. 🙄 Can we help it if you want to steal our things and yet are only capable of providing a poor imitation? 🤣 🇺🇸

ThanksItHasPockets · 29/10/2023 19:42

Claiming that your children would have been too clever to enjoy pumpkin picking is either the zenith or the nadir of MN snobbery, depending on your perspective. Imagine not only having that thought but writing it down and publishing it to an audience of millions.

Londonscallingme · 29/10/2023 19:42

I found out about this the other day and was totally flummoxed 😂

FlissyPaps · 29/10/2023 19:40

Jellykat · 29/10/2023 19:35

Small children playing with little wheelbarrows, petting animals, doing a treasure hunt in the woods, toasting marshmallows, playing in a playground, excited on a tractor. None of that feels materialistic to me, it's as wholesome as it gets.

Colleen, sorry i do think its hilarious, that to you the above is as 'wholesome as it gets', its a commercial venture cashing in on Halloween tourism, but hey knock yourself out..
To me the reality of farming here in West Wales is very different!

Jesus how patronising are you?

Just let people enjoy activities with their families without being judgemental.

Finding someone hilarious because they are enjoying being outdoors with their children and contributing to their local area? Very strange.

HaveToSaySomethingHere · 29/10/2023 19:40

My son was very surprised when a big pumpkin appeared in our garden one year. I think he's a pumpkin believer to this day!

Nonplusultra · 29/10/2023 19:39

eatsleepfarmrepeat · 29/10/2023 17:45

We have pumpkin picking on our farm for two weeks of the year.

We do it to diversify our income, we started a few years ago when the local farm shop closed and it has become very popular ever since. The commodity markets in farming are volatile and we’re absolutely fucked over by the supermarkets at every turn.

We do grow our own, they are purchased by merchants to trade on to supermarkets at a £/tonne, it works out at approx 25p per pumpkin for the growers who carry all of the cost and risk up to harvest. We figured by making it an attraction and selling a fair amount from the farm (at a very similar price to that which the supermarket sells to consumers) we can get a better margin whilst providing something which local families enjoy.

It’s really nice to see lots of children enjoying the mud and the outdoors and it does seem to be popular.

we have previously hosted it in the pumpkin fields where they are grown, but typically at this time of year and particularly after barbet it is very wet and unpleasant. We have to sever all the pumpkins from the plant prior to the picking anyway with knife so we figured it would be a more pleasant experience to bring them into grassed paddocks which are a lot more dry than wallowing in a planted field.

Thanks for sharing this. I started this thread eye rolling at the idea, but the farmer’s side hadn’t occurred to me. And it sounds like a bit of fun.