For two weekends in October a field local to me opens up for pumpkin picking. There’s a great variety of squash to find from baby boo to big orange onges to carve and Crown Prince & Uchiki Kuri to eat. Apart from loads of pumpkins they also have a haybale “maze” that is mostly used by kids to run on (and this big kid). There’s bouncy castles and fun fair type games as well as RockBox for delicious food.

Last year was my first time going, I bought a modest amount of 3 small squash. Since I didn’t grow any pumpkins that year I got the bug by seeing all the various colours and shapes in the field and wanted my own pumpkin patch for this year. Thanks to the help of people’s answers on what they thought was the best as well as the generosity from my Instagram friend Kathryn,  who sent me so many different varieties to try. She sent me seeds for Uchiki Kuri, Crown Prince & Queensland Blue, Musquee de Maroc and yellow courgette (of which I can’t remember the name)

 

Now this year has been amazing with what I’ve been able to grow in the garden. I’ve got 2 enormous Crown Prince, 1 (not yet coloured) Queensland blue, 3 Uchiki Kuri (of which ones has started to rot – and why I bought one at the pumpkin patch), 2 Sweet lightnings, 1 teeny tiny butternut squash and 3 huge Musquee de Maroc! As well as 7 cured white Patty Pans.

I bought 2 small baby boos (mine refused to grow), that 1 Uchiki Kuri, 2 Harlequin & a small pumpkin with a pinkish hued skin. No idea on variety. All I know is, we’ll have squash coming out of our ears come summer 😆

It was so much fun walking around and picking pumpkins. Definitely recommend doing this – even If you grow your own 🎃

 

* Now to find recipes to try for everything and anything pumpkin. From pumpkin spice espresso martinis to squash risotto and pecan pumpkin pie and soups to pumpkin créme brûlée in mini pumpkins ( how many time can you use the word pumpkin 😵‍💫)