| If you're reading this, the chances are you've already heard - we haven't got pumpkins to pick from the patch this year. Although this doesn't spell the end for this year's pumpkin season, I know the lack of proper picking will be disappointing news to many of you. And so the least I can do is write this post to explain what's happened to our patch, what will and won't be happening on the farm this October and what this means for you our visitors and for us at the farm. |  Spot the pumpkin - there should be 10,000 more in this patch! |
What’s Happened?
In mid-May 2019 we planted 13,000+ pumpkin plants across our two pumpkin patches. Nearly 5 acres of plants ready to spend their summer growing in the sunshine…
But this year it’s not gone to plan. Shortly after planting, we were drenched by day after day of heavy rain for the first two weeks of June. Our little pumpkin plants hadn’t had enough time to become properly established and their roots weren’t able to cope with the soaking soil. We hoped they would recover as the summer weather improved but to our dismay the majority just died away.
In mid-May 2019 we planted 13,000+ pumpkin plants across our two pumpkin patches. Nearly 5 acres of plants ready to spend their summer growing in the sunshine…
But this year it’s not gone to plan. Shortly after planting, we were drenched by day after day of heavy rain for the first two weeks of June. Our little pumpkin plants hadn’t had enough time to become properly established and their roots weren’t able to cope with the soaking soil. We hoped they would recover as the summer weather improved but to our dismay the majority just died away.
Funnily enough the only plants to survive were the 150 planted by our Junior Farmers rather than us!
In a last-ditch attempt to produce a crop, we invested further in 1000s of extra pumpkin seeds, sowing them into the soil in mid-July. With two months of growing time lost, the seeds’ success would rely on an Indian Summer of warm sunshine during August and September. Well this August has been amongst the wettest on record - Cheshire had 179% of its usual rainfall. The seeds didn't stand a chance.
It would be wrong to blame it all on the rain – it will have been a combination of the weather, the precise timing of our planting and our soil type, but either way the result is the same. We estimate that only 2% of the pumpkins (and 0% of our squashes) survived. A near total crop failure for only the second time in 30+ years of pumpkin farming.
It would be wrong to blame it all on the rain – it will have been a combination of the weather, the precise timing of our planting and our soil type, but either way the result is the same. We estimate that only 2% of the pumpkins (and 0% of our squashes) survived. A near total crop failure for only the second time in 30+ years of pumpkin farming.
What does this mean for this year?
As I write this at the start of September, we’ve made the following plans for pumpkin season on the farm...
We will still go ahead and fill our massive polytunnel with thousands of pumpkins of all different sizes. We’re lucky to have a network of friendly local farmers who will supply us with as many pumpkins as possible, letting us create an indoor pumpkin bonanza just as we’ve always done. And as ever, we’ve been busy designing new decorations for our spooky entrance and creative backdrops for unique photo opportunities.
As I write this at the start of September, we’ve made the following plans for pumpkin season on the farm...
We will still go ahead and fill our massive polytunnel with thousands of pumpkins of all different sizes. We’re lucky to have a network of friendly local farmers who will supply us with as many pumpkins as possible, letting us create an indoor pumpkin bonanza just as we’ve always done. And as ever, we’ve been busy designing new decorations for our spooky entrance and creative backdrops for unique photo opportunities.
| Our carving arena will be in full swing as usual too. We know 1000s of children look forward to carving their pumpkins here each year, and 1000s of parents appreciate leaving the mess with us! Winnie the Witch will be on-hand to help you design your master-piece and the so the pumpkin festival atmosphere in the carving tent will be alive and well! |  Winnie the Witch and Mrs Pumpkin! |
What won’t be possible this year is to pick your own pumpkin from a genuine pumpkin patch. Instead we intend to create a 'pumpkin parade' of rows of harvested pumpkins in a grass field, to allow those who want to pick up a pumpkin from outdoors to do so. It's not proper picking but it's as close as we can get this year. We just have to cross our fingers that our supply of pumpkins doesn't run out and that the weather stays dry enough to allow safe access to the field. We'll keep our Pumpkins page updated every day with the latest developments.
What does this mean for the future?
“Crop failure” are possibly the worst two words in any farmer’s dictionary. But the reality is: this is part of farming. It’s something every farmer around the world will experience several times in their lives. It’s never a good situation to be in and it’s even worse when you’re letting down thousands of enthusiastic pumpkin pickers. But it’s something we’ve experienced before and will again. When you’re working with nature these things can happen. As my dad would say: "It's one of the joys of farming!"
“Crop failure” are possibly the worst two words in any farmer’s dictionary. But the reality is: this is part of farming. It’s something every farmer around the world will experience several times in their lives. It’s never a good situation to be in and it’s even worse when you’re letting down thousands of enthusiastic pumpkin pickers. But it’s something we’ve experienced before and will again. When you’re working with nature these things can happen. As my dad would say: "It's one of the joys of farming!"
We’re fortunate to have a loyal and growing customer base who visit our café, farm shop and plant centre all year round, helping to keep the farm going outside of our peak seasons. Not all farmers are so lucky. It will be interesting to see how things go during this different October and it may be that the enforced change this year inspires us to develop new and improved ways of running our pumpkin season in future. Only time will tell...
James Bulmer
James Bulmer