One of autumn’s greatest harbingers and most delightful activities, pumpkin picking is fast becoming an October tradition in our family. Whether you’re doing it for the ‘gram, prefer plucking your own gourd fresh from the soil or just love getting into the spirit of Halloween, I’ve rounded up the best places to go pumpkin picking in Somerset in 2021.
Best pumpkin picking in Somerset
The Trough Patch, Yeovil (15-13 October)
Family-run farm shop and cafe on the edge of Yeovil, The Trough, has planted over 40,000 pumpkins for you to get your woollen mits on! After selecting the ultimate jack-o-lantern, refuel with hot dogs, burgers, cookies and drinks.
No booking necessary.
Frogmary Green Farm, South Petherton (23-31 October)
This award-winning farm with cafe, florist, wedding/events venue and lake recently opened up their fields for sunflower plucking. Come October their pumpkins will be ready for the taking! More details are to follow, but entry is FREE and you’ll only pay if you pick any pumpkins. Small – £2 Medium – £3 Large – £5.
Thurloxton Farm, Taunton (20-31 October)
This fruit-growing farm is run by the Quick family, who have farmed on the foothills of the Quantocks for much of the past century.
Take a spooky walk to the pumpkin fields to pluck your prize pumpkin, before taking it to the carving barn and getting involved with games such as “Hit the Witch” giant apple catapult.
Tickets £12.50, for those that want to pick a pumpkin and play, otherwise parents, Grandparents, carers etc. go free.
Palette and Pasture, Trudoxhill, Nr Frome (2-31 October)
Pick as many pumpkins as you like during your 2-hour time slot at rural Pyle Farm. Pumpkins range from warty (£2.50) to whoppers (£10.50) and your pre-booked ticket (£3.50 per person over 2) is redeemable against your pumpkin purchase. Be sure to bring cash for any extra pumpkins that catch your eye on the day as their card machine does not always work in the field.
There are also goats and sheep to meet and feed, pedal tractors, a digger pit and ‘bounce in your bubble’ inflatable sessions (at weekends and half term week) for little ones. PLUS an Ice Cream Parlour serving Palette and Pasture’s very own gelato, made from their dairy herd. Spooky-licious.
Pre-booking is essential.
Pumpkin Picking Patch, Newton Farm, Bath (9-10, 16-17, 22-31 October)
There are 8 acres to scour to find the pumpkin of your dreams on this family-run farm, just 10-minutes from Bath. Once you’re the owner of a great gourd, brush up on your ‘Pumpkinology’, decorate a wand and broom and tuck into autumnal goodies.
No booking required for PYO Pumpkins. Pumpkins start at £1 and are measured by size.
Schmooks Pumpkin Patch, Ilminster (16-27 October)
Schmooks (great name) is opening for another year of 3.8 acres of pumpkin picking pomfoolery! Head down between 10am and 4pm to grab yourself a good’un.
Riverside Pumpkin Picking & Halloween party, Rose Mills Trading Estate, Ilminster (28-30 October)
Pick up a pumpkin, then carve it into a terrifying shape at this lovely riverside spot. Pumpkin plucking will be taking place on 28 and 29 October, followed by a Halloween party on 30 October. Go in fancy dress, snuggle up close to the firepit and sip local cider and sausages for a frighteningly good time.
Free entry, pumpkin prices from £2.
Pumpkin festival at Farringtons, Farrington Gurney (2-3, 8-10, 14-31 October)
Over 40,000 pumpkin seeds have been planted for Farrington’s PYO pumpkin festival. Grab a wheelbarrow and trawl the field for an array of different varieties, including the ghoulish-white ghost pumpkins. There’s also a playbarn for youngsters, an outdoor farm park, gorgeous farm shop brimming with fresh seasonal produce and onsite cafe – perfect for a warming treat after your pumpkin-hunting extravaganza. Booking essential.
Vale of Camelot Growers, Sparkford, Yeovil (October)
This small, family-run business sells hanging baskets, pots and plants from April to July, cut flowers from June to August, pumpkins in October and Christmas trees and wreaths come Christmas.
Thistledown Farm, Babcary (3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 25-31 October)
Grab a ‘barrow and fill it with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes (including those ghostly white ones.) Prices range from £2 for the teeniest ornamental pumpkins to £15 for the humongous kind. While you’re there, save the hassle and mess at home and carve your own pumpkin for an extra £1/pumpkin (a particularly enticing offer for those with young kids…)
No booking required.
Charlton Orchards, Creech St Michael, Taunton (last 2 weeks of October)
Traditional apple specialists, Charlton Orchards also offer a range of other fruit and veg. Those gorgeous gourds are available throughout October, with Pick Your Own pumpkins offered during the last 2 weeks of the month.
For extra autumnal oompf, you can also get your hands on a number of squash varieties, including Crown Prince, Butterrnut, Kabocha and Little Gem Rolet.
Pumpkin Patch at Avon Valley (2-31 October)
Thousands of pumpkins are waiting to be turned into spooky jack-o-lanterns in the patch at Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park. Or if you don’t want to get muddy selecting your own, just opt for one from their gourd-geous selection (priced according to size).
There’ll also be spooky characters pottering around the site, fairground rides (charged separately), Pumpkin Paintball, Fire shows, Scarecrow Shoot’em, Massive Pumpkin Canons (new), Pumpkin Slingshot and lots more! A veritable pumpkin extravaganza!
Tickets: £4 per person
*Please note tickets to the Pumpkin Patch do not give you access to Avon Valley Park which is closed at this time. If you choose to go on the rides or use the side stalls, these are charged separately. Pumpkins are not included in your event entry ticket.
Pumpkin picking at Puxton Park (23-31 October)
Pick the plumpest of pumpkins from the patch at Puxton Adventure Park, then zhuzh it up with a splash of paint! Embrace the Halloween spirit with further spoooooooky goings-on in the park – including creepy critters encounters, a Halloween disco (fancy dress encouraged) and more.
What do you think?