West Post
3 hours ago Phil Harrison, in Southfleet and Tanya Gupta, South East Laura Brady The Wonky Parsnip had some pumpkins but not enough for people to pick their own Two farms in Kent have cancelled their pick-your-own pumpkin events after dry weather hit this year's crops. Broadditch Farm in Southfleet would normally have harvested 25,000 to 30,000 pumpkins in autumn, but this year expects to have around 1,500. Farmer John Harris said the pumpkins had not got going this year because of the lack of moisture, adding: "We're suffering.
We've only harvested a tenth of what we should have done." The Wonky Parsnip at Brogdale Farm in Faversham is also not opening its pick-your-own pumpkin patch this year. Owner Laura Brady wrote on Facebook she was " absolutely gutted ". Broadditch says it has harvested only a fraction of its usual pumpkin crop At Broadditch, Harris said the struggle was getting them germinated after they were sown in May, but once they were growing, they loved sunshine.
"The key is obviously getting a crop there to start with," he said. "If we could get some rainfall through May, we don't need a lot, just a good shower to get them all going, and they'll be fine," he added. The farm shop still has a supply of homegrown pumpkins and squash Over at The Wonky Parsnip market garden, Brady said she had "waited and waited all summer" for the weather to change.
In the end, Brogdale Farm had produced some pumpkins, but not enough to provide the experience she wanted for visitors. She said the pumpkins which had grown had been sold to restaurants, used for displays or put on sale in the farm shop. Brady said pumpkins were eaten and grown all around the world and it was not impossible to grow them in hot weather.
The farm could now consider different varieties, including drought-resistant pumpkins, or look at planting earlier, she added. "Sometimes things are not what we want but we can't get too upset," she said. "We've just got to try again next year." Laura Brady Laura Brady said she was "absolutely gutted" not to be opening the pick-your-own pumpkin patch this year Halloween activities are still running at Broadditch, Harris said.
The "spooky trailer ride" will not be running because the pick-your-own pumpkin field is closed. However, activities that are still running include a Little Frights Trail and pumpkin carving workshops, while pumpkins and squash remain on sale in the farm shop. Both farmers are hoping for better conditions next year More on this story Related internet links
Source: BBC
