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Original poster

Pumpkin patches

54 replies

Jasmineblossom24 · 20/10/2022 08:20

Are pumpkin patches actually worth it? I’m in the south west of UK and there is one near us and DH would like to take the children. Are they actually any good, or is it best just to get a supermarket one? I’ve never been to a pumpkin patch (I’ve seen American pics of them) but I guess it could add to the halloween festivities?

OP posts:
Meadowbreeze · 20/10/2022 08:24

The ones in America are amazing, we went to one. Their corn harvest is a bit later so it was brilliant fun, we had corn mazes, massive pit filled with dried corn, a quite scary tractor ride through the woods with lots of Halloween decorations.
The pumpkin patch was the most boring bit, so if that's all they've got I wouldn't bother.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 20/10/2022 08:24

We went to Tesco and got two huge pumpkins but we are also going to a pumpkin patch at the weekend. The place has a spooky trail leading to the patch and then a massive playpark. So that's more of a day out.
Either way you get a pumpkin but it depends if you want an "event" or just a quick shop.
My mum took my son to the same latch last year and he had a ball so I think they are worth it

CaptainBarbosa · 20/10/2022 08:26

I mean they are ok, a bit of fun for the kids walking around choosing a pumpkin, but be prepared to pay like £3-5 for a 99p pumpkin. The site is also generally decorated too which is fun.

I went once wellies coats, was a nice morning out walking and choosing a pumpkin but I did pay "over the odds".

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Events & celebrations
Shayisgreat · 20/10/2022 08:26

We went to a pumpkin patch and got 4 pumpkins 2 weeks ago. One of them has already rotted!

Maybe my family and I missed the point or fun of it but I feel like going to Tesco to pick out pumpkins would have been a similar experience!

Dollydea · 20/10/2022 08:27

Most of the ones in the U.K. don't even grow their own pumpkins, they buy them scatter them in their field then charge you a ridiculous amount to go and pick one up.

VenusClapTrap · 20/10/2022 08:31

Dollydea · 20/10/2022 08:27

Most of the ones in the U.K. don't even grow their own pumpkins, they buy them scatter them in their field then charge you a ridiculous amount to go and pick one up.

Yes, that’s why I don’t bother. It’s totally fake.

Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 20/10/2022 08:33

Yes, you do pay a premium for a pumpkin but it’s nice way to spend an hour or two. Our local one has some lovely photo ops.

BertieBotts · 20/10/2022 08:35

That's not always true, the problem is that pumpkins are extremely hard to pick with tough stalks. They aren't like strawberries so you can't literally pick your own unless you want to go around arming five year olds with machetes.

They machine harvest them and then place them in a field so that you can easily pick one. Whether it's their own field or they have been bought in from somewhere else that happens.

BertieBotts · 20/10/2022 08:36

*own crop

Afterfire · 20/10/2022 08:36

Dollydea · 20/10/2022 08:27

Most of the ones in the U.K. don't even grow their own pumpkins, they buy them scatter them in their field then charge you a ridiculous amount to go and pick one up.

This. But-

If they have other activities to do and food stalls etc it can be fun.

ToastandJamandTea · 20/10/2022 08:38

We went to Millets Farm in Oxfordshire last weekend.
Lots of lovely pumpkins and various squash for picking, set props for photographs and some games. They also have a free farmyard/playground.
We really enjoyed it and it was relatively inexpensive price wise.

BogRollBOGOF · 20/10/2022 08:38

The one nearest me is genuine, I watch them growing all summer as I pass on the public footpaths.

I've not been officially as it started around the time my children were losing interest. It would be something to fill a couple of hours.

ChillysWaterBottle · 20/10/2022 08:44

Thanks for asking OP I've been wondering this too.

Obviously it wasn't a thing when I was growing up but I am open to new fun traditions (is that an oxymoron lol) and love Halloween so was considering it.

From the comments already it sounds like it depends on your local one if it's any good. Is there a way to see reviews locally?

bloodyeverlastinghell · 20/10/2022 08:47

VenusClapTrap · 20/10/2022 08:31

Yes, that’s why I don’t bother. It’s totally fake.

Show quote history

Yeah this there are some activities but seemed a fairly expensive couple of hours for me. Definitely once was enough.

EricNorthmanYesPlease · 20/10/2022 08:47

Our local pumpkin patch works out cheaper than the supermarket. They also have loads of photo ops and a cafe for tea.and cake!
There's one near Oswestry that has rides for the children and a pizza van etc. Depends what you want.

I went to one when my daughter was one in Bolton. Had to carry her as I was pushing the wheelbarrow, walk down a dirt track for miles and carry the pumpkin all the way to the car. This was not fun lol

VenusClapTrap · 20/10/2022 08:56

The one time we did it, it wasn’t fun at all. Ds just screamed and screamed because dd’s pumpkin was better than his. Trying to find two pumpkins that are identical in the eyes of a toddler is harder than you think 🙄

liveforsummer · 20/10/2022 09:09

A few years we went to one and spent a small fortune on 2 smallish pumpkins which went mouldy before Halloween. I was naive to think we were going to actually pick the pumpkins but it was actually just a job bought in and dumped in a damp field (which no doubt aided the rotting process). It's been supermarket ones every time since 😆

Ohnoohdear · 20/10/2022 09:16

It depends on the patch! We have a great one where I live where a lot of the pumpkins are still stuck in the ground so definitely home grown. Free entrance, some fun stuff for young kids like big sandpit/ straw bales to climb, games like wellie throwing and small tractors to drive around. There’s also a food tent with toasties hot and cold drinks etc. I picked up 5 pumpkins in various sizes and colours for £5.

MarmiRae · 20/10/2022 09:17

@ToastandJamandTea I went to Millets over the summer and it was amazing! We only saw the animals and the kids went in the park area but unfortunately we didn’t get time to go inside the store / play area.

@Dollydea i had no idea about that! I thought they had lots of pumpkins growing out of the ground lol

@CaptainBarbosa thats what I’m concerned about - in my co op they have big pumpkins for £2 each and I’m reluctant to pay out the nose to walk around a muddy field just to pay £5+ for a small pumpkin! I’ll see what the pumpkin patch that DH wants to go to is like - I’m hoping it’s like others have said and will have stalls and be quite spooky!

MarmiRae · 20/10/2022 09:19

@Ohnoohdear that sounds awesome! I’m going to see what is available near me (we are in the sticks so need to see what is available near us).

WildFlowerBees · 20/10/2022 09:21

We went to one with a friends dc. Pumpkins were expensive not much of an atmosphere, kids weren't bothered I'm not really sure of the sure point of it all.

Hibye23289 · 20/10/2022 09:25

We went to one last year, a large pumpkin was £25!!!!!! I have 2 children, not a chance was I paying £50 for 2 vegetables. I then had to feel tight and say pick the smaller ones kids, no not that one, that one. Not bothering this year.

MarmiRae · 20/10/2022 09:33

@Hibye23289 thats awful! That’s what I’m worried about - charging extortionate prices for something you can get for a fraction of the price locally. I mean, I thought £5 was too end for a pumpkin. My DC don’t even like eating it, so the dog will have a field day eating all the scraps!

VoyageInTheDark · 20/10/2022 09:35

Went to one last year at a farm and DD (4 then) didn't really see get it. She just picked the first one she saw, refused to pose for photos and went back to the playground! Tesco this year 😂

OceanbreezeSun · 20/10/2022 09:36

We are going to one this weekend with dd. We went last year too and it was fun, nice atmosphere all around.
They had a few kids fairground rides, 3 nice food stalls, coffee wagon, farm animals, a pumpkin patch craft station, where you could carve or draw on the pumpkins with your kids, a Halloween trail through a field & a big indoor picnic area with pumpkins everywhere.
The actual pumpkin patch was huge (and muddy) we didn’t stay in that part for long but got 4 lovely sized pumpkins for £7. They tasted nicer than the ones from the supermarket & lasted longer.