People are only just realising the cheeky truth behind pumpkin picking sites as parents brand it a ‘scam’
WITH Halloween just around the corner many people will be flocking to pumpkin picking sites to get their hands on the perfect gourd for the season.
As well as being a scenic spot for an autumnal snap for social media, the pick your own pumpkin sites have become a popular day out for families, especially those with young children.
But there’s a cheeky truth behind the trend and it’s left people stunned online.
Apparently, many of the sites don’t actually grow their own pumpkins and buy them in so other people can get their experience of ‘picking’ them.
This comes after one user on X realised what was really going on and had to share.
“Pumpkin picking is the biggest scam going,” they wrote on the social media site.
“Discovered last year it’s just a load of pumpkins from Aldi, chucked on a muddy field, for 10 times the price. Never again.”
Her discovery caught the attention of other users who realised the same thing and couldn’t believe it either.
“They should re-name it “pumpkin picking-up,” one person replied to the viral post.
And another suggested recreating the experience for little ones for a fraction of the price.
“Just buy a load of Aldi ones, bang them in the garden when the kids go to bed, tell them the Halloween goblin has grown them overnight,” they wrote.
This isn’t an entirely new discovery though, and last year other Halloween fans caught on to the sneakiness of the craze.
“I did not realise the whole pumpkin picking phenomenon was coming to a field where people have placed pumpkins to pick them up,” another stunned X user said.
“We are quite, quite mad,” he added.
Don’t worry if you’ve only just realised the trend isn’t quite as it seems though, plenty of people admitted they had no idea either.
“I too had assumed it to be more like strawberry picking,” one person confessed.
“Oh god what a rip off, it seems so obvious now,” another penned.
And a third chimed in: “‘It’s crazy! Not unlike going to a supermarket where people have placed large quantities of packaged food in a building.”
Of course, not all sites are guilty of buying in pumpkins and spreading them over fields for punters to pick up – many do grow their own.
If you do want an authentic experience your best bet is visiting smaller, local farms and sites.
You can also get in touch with them before your visit to see if their pumpkins are grown on site.
And if you’re still unsure if you’re picking a pumpkin or just picking one up, opt for a patch where the pumpkins are still attached to the plant in the ground.
However, people pointed out that some farms do grow pumpkins on site, but cut them and move them to a larger field for customers to choose from – so it’s not all bad news.
Where you can harvest your own pumpkin
THERE are many sites across the UK that offer an authentic experience, and some even go the extra mile with other attractions too
Tulley’s Farm, West Sussex: One of the most well known sites, Tulley’s Farm grows a whopping amount of pumpkins for people to buy – and if you do pay a visit there’s always plenty of other things going on to enjoy too.
Pumpkin Pete’s, Herefordshire: For £4, you can get access to this pumpkin patch which boats a huge selection of gourds to choose from – and there’s also other fun activities to enjoy.
Crockfield Farm Park, Oldham: This site doesn’t just have a pumpkin patch, but also a mini one for little ones to enjoy and pick their own mini pumpkin. Tickets range in price but start from just £4.
Farmer Copley’s, West Yorkshire: Another site with plenty going on, Farmer Copley’s has it’s very own pumpkin festival with live music – and all it’s pumpkins are grown on site!
Cairnie Fruit Farm, Fife: One of the cheapest PYO spots, entry will set you back just £1.50, and under-3s go free. There’s plenty of different pumpkins to choose from too.
Pumpkin patches you can visit without spending a penny
IF you don’t fancy coughing up the cash, there are plenty of pumpkin picking sites with free entry – just pay for what you pick!
The list was pulled together by the experts from Outdoor Toys, reviewing the entry prices for adults and children for patches across the UK.
Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire: Doddington Hall is one of the most popular patches on social media with over 21,000 Instagram posts and 334 on TikTok. The patch offers thirty varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds to choose from as well as a Farm shop and café!
Tapnell Farm, Isle of Wight: Tapnell Farm climbs to second place in the rankings this year! The farm offers a pumpkin trail and a bumper crop of pumpkins. There are also plenty of photo opportunities! Tapnell Farm also has a solid presence on social media, garnering over 6,800 Instagram posts!
Trevaskis Farm, Cornwall: Trevaskis Farm has a lot to offer the whole family – with a shop and restaurant for those looking to spend the full day there. The farm offers crop picking all year round – but pumpkins are the star of the show this season!