Farmers across the East Midlands are facing a challenging Halloween season as poor weather conditions have led to a significant decline in pumpkin yields.
Many pumpkin growers in the region report fewer crops or complete crop failures, blaming the wet and cold spring during planting season for the disappointing harvest.
Jo Belcher, who runs March House Farm in Great Dalby, Leicestershire, spoke about the frustration of seeing an entire pumpkin crop fail.
Her family farm, which has been operating for four generations, has traditionally provided an abundance of pumpkins. However, this year has marked the first time in eight years that no pumpkins have grown.
Belcher explained that the seeds, which typically flourish into flowers and vines before forming pumpkins, failed to produce any fruit.
She attributed this to the cold spring, stating, “The seeds went into hibernation due to the chilly weather, which delayed their growth. Unfortunately, despite our hopes, no pumpkins appeared.”
The stark reality on Belcher’s farm this season is a barren field where there would normally be a “sea of orange” ready for Halloween festivities.
Speaking about the scale of the problem, she said, “I spoke to a wholesaler who is aware of 15,000 pumpkins that have failed. It’s disheartening to see the fruits of our labour not arrive.”
While Belcher’s farm has experienced a complete failure, others have fared somewhat better. Charlie Village, who operates Village Pumpkin Patch in Derbyshire, admitted to fearing the worst when planting conditions were at their worst in the spring.
Despite losing 50% of his plants, those that survived have thrived. “The weather battered a lot of the plants when they were first put into the fields, but we’re fortunate to have avoided the worst-case scenario,” he said.
Still, Village acknowledged the broader difficulties facing the farming industry. “Farming in general has been terrible in recent months. Margins on crops are tight, and weather challenges have made it even more difficult,” he added.
At Kirkby Pumpkin Patch, located east of Leicester, director Emma Curtis also noted the difficulties this year has brought.
While they planted a larger area to compensate, they are “significantly down” on the number of pumpkins compared to last year. Curtis attributed the reduction in yield to cold, wet weather that caused many pumpkins to flower late.
“Last year was a great year, but this year, the crop has been much smaller,” she said, adding that they have not yet cut back their opening days for pumpkin picking but may need to do so depending on upcoming weather conditions. Despite the challenges, Curtis remains optimistic: “We’re making it work, but it hasn’t been a good year for growing at all.”
In contrast, Nottinghamshire’s “Pick Your Own” Pumpkins near Oxton has had a better outcome. Mark Hodkinson, a partner at the farm, reported a “good crop” this year.
While acknowledging that weather plays a significant role, he believes that good farming practices are also key to success. “The weather is always unpredictable, but we’re set to open for the public to pick pumpkins,” he said.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has acknowledged the challenges faced by pumpkin growers this year. A spokesperson noted that the time of planting was crucial due to the wet spring.
Despite some difficulties, the NFU remains hopeful that there won’t be a shortage of pumpkins for Halloween, though the broader impact of climate change continues to affect farmers across the country.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
