Express & Star

Warm weather boosts pumpkin numbers

Published

A bumper crop of pumpkins has arrived at Essington Fruit Farm thanks to one of the mildest years on record.

An early spring and warm September means the farm has grown thousands of everyone's favourite Halloween fruit – and they are bigger than usual too.

Owner Richard Simkin admits it is a case of the bigger the better when it comes to sales.

He said: "The big ones are popular. In the last two years they have been the ones which have gone first. They're slightly bigger than the ones you can get from supermarkets so people seem to prefer those grown here on the farm.

"This year we have grown several thousands of pumpkins – it's out biggest crop yet. Every year we have to grow more to meet demand.

"We have got around a dozen different varieties and the sizes range from that of a grapefruit to the size of three of four footballs. Some are short and squat. Some are long and thin like a sausage."

The farm off Bognop Road is putting on trailer rides until tomorrow (Friday, October 31) allowing youngsters to pick their own pumpkins. They are also available to buy in the farm's shop.

Visit www.essingtonfarm.co.uk for more information.

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