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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

What's the point in a pumpkin patch

69 replies

Llindsey85 · 26/10/2019 15:51

So, my son is just turning 3 and suddenly my Facebook is full of people taking their kids to pumpkin patches.
What is the point in these? It seems like farms just buy in a ton of pumpkins, put them in a previous empty field and I presume charge double what the supermarket does.
Am i missing something here?

OP posts:

HerRoyalNotness · 26/10/2019 20:34

In the US it’s a day out as there is a lot of play activities at the farm too. We went to a mini one the other day, the toddlers had pony rides, jumping pillow thing, petting zoo, a couple of play grounds, train and hay ride. They also got a free small pumpkin. $15!

We normally go to other one each year with more stuff for the older kids, but I’m not sure if I’ll take them this year.

HoldMyLobster · 26/10/2019 21:03

What I think is funny is when people take their small children for their “pumpkin shoot” (a professional photo shoot done at a pumpkin farm). This must be more of a standard thing in the US I think.

Ah no, a pumpkin shoot in the US is something a little different...

formerbabe · 26/10/2019 21:20

It's a way to kill time with small children at the weekend.

Sparklingbrook · 26/10/2019 22:23

I have never seen a shrink wrapped pumpkin at a supermarket. Where are they? Just huge boxes of naked pumpkins.

francienolan · 26/10/2019 22:51

I'm American. We used to go when I was a kid because they would have lots of different shapes and sizes, where most stores would just have kind of standard looking ones. I always loved choosing a unique looking one to carve with my dad.

Haven't done it here, though. Halloween isn't big in our neighborhood and we never get trick or treaters, so there doesn't seem to be much point to buy a pumpkin as decoration. (I have bought several and cooked or baked with them this autumn though!)

steff13 · 26/10/2019 23:46

WTF is a pumpkin donut?

A donut made with pumpkin and spices. I didn't think it was a huge least to figure that out. Do you all only have plain donuts there?

steff13 · 26/10/2019 23:47

Leap, not least. 🙄

SingingMyOwnSpecialSong · 26/10/2019 23:58

We visited one today. Pumpkins grown there (they also supply local grocers), but cut ready to pick up for reasons mentioned by PPs. Also had a straw bale maze, nice food van, tent to eat food in and games using pumpkins (and nice portaloo block). Lovely atmosphere and they only charged for our biggish pumpkins not the tiny, past their best, pumpkins DD chose. Very happy to pay a fair price, support a local producer and have a bit of fun. We will spend longer there next year.

LimeTreeGrove · 27/10/2019 13:26

Pumpkin donut sounds lovely, and no not too taxing to work out what it could be.

Witchinaditch · 27/10/2019 14:16

It’s been said but for fun, fresh air, getting out the house... lighten up!

Expressedways · 27/10/2019 14:24

We go, DD loves it. There are fairground rides, spooky hat ride through the woods, a haunted house (skipped that one as it was apparently very scary), a playground, petting zoo, pony rides, corn maze, food trucks, farm shop etc.. It’s a great day out. We couldn’t be bothered to carry pumpkins to the car though so bought those with the online shopping instead! A pumpkin patch that is literally some pumpkins dumped in a field would be shit though, it’s the other stuff that makes it fun.

bonbonours · 27/10/2019 14:31

I've never been as I assume the pumpkins are more expensive than the ones in the supermarket and I have to buy four so each kid can carve one. I would be very surprised if (as someone said above) they are cheaper. I got massive ones for 2 for £3 in supermarket.

I used to love pyo strawberries and raspberries when I was a kid but if they are already cut it doesn't seem as much fun (plus with the fruit half the fun was eating tons as you picked lol)

HoldMyLobster · 27/10/2019 15:33

We used to go to this one...

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/17142897

Pinkblueberry · 27/10/2019 15:34

So people can take pictures and put them on FB...

CruCru · 27/10/2019 18:31

Ah, I’ve just googled Pumpkin Shoots and see what you mean. However, FB friends use this to mean a photo shoot with their small children and a load of pumpkins.

Daddystilllost · 27/10/2019 19:55

@Llindsey85 They take them out of one field and place them in another to prevent people trampling all over the ones which aren't ready - hence the replenishment

Walnutwhipster · 27/10/2019 19:59

To support local farmers and make it an experience. At Christmas we drive out into the forest to choose a tree. Gorgeous Newfoundland dogs with trailers bring them back to your car for a donation to the Air Ambulance. I hate the term making memories but it's not quite the same as a trip to B&Q.

LimeTreeGrove · 27/10/2019 23:27

It hadn't taken off here when mine were little. First time i saw it was a friend in the US going to one. I would have done it with mine if they'd been around. Sounds more fun than picking one from Tesco.

Purpleartichoke · 27/10/2019 23:30

We went this weekend. Corn maze, zip line, cute animals, lots of games. The pumpkin really isn’t the point.

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