Early ripening raises questions around Halloween supply, but hot weather also brings benefits
Many pumpkins have ripened early and are smaller than usual this year following the record summer temperatures, according to growers from around the UK.
The early arrival has raised some questions over whether crops can be held until Halloween at the end of October.
However, the hot, dry conditions have also benefited the crop, with growers reporting good quality and little sign of disease or pest pressure.
According to the Met Office, the UK experienced its hottest summer on record this year, based on a dataset stretching back to 1884.
Jonathan Smales, grower at PD Smales & Sons, a leading Halloween pumpkin supplier based in Salisbury, said: “The crop has ripened very early however we have zero signs of rots as yet, and the quality looks very good.
“Normally a hot or dry summer helps the skins and stalks harden which aids disease reduction,” he added.
A main concern is size, with a shortage of larger pumpkins possible this season. A recent crop report from foodservice supplier Fresh Direct said pumpkins were expected to be “materially smaller” this year due to the poor growing conditions.
“Smalls will be plentiful and mediums will be limited in volume, but large pumpkins are not expected to be available at all this season as crops continue to struggle,” it said.
Smales continued: “The pumpkin is smaller than last year even after three lots of irrigation, and some varieties have done better than others. Varieties such as Munchkin haven’t been as prolific, however, Polar Bear has performed very well.”
More than two-thirds of England were in drought this summer, while July was the driest on record, according to the Met Office.
Smales said pumpkins could perform well in hot conditions provided they had sufficient water.
“Pumpkin does actually enjoy the heat if you can accompany water,” he said. “A dry summer is always better for disease and weeds versus a cold and wet summer.”
The early crop has raised questions over whether pumpkins will remain in good condition through to Halloween. Farmer Ed Godsall, who runs a pick-your-own pumpkin patch in Herefordshire, told the BBC he was concerned about keeping his crop ripe until the end of October.
“They’re ready now and they’ve got to wait until the end of October,” he said, although he added that consumers should still be able to find pumpkins by visiting different farms. Fiona Beards of Pumpkins R Us in Warwickshire, meanwhile, told the BBC she expected the pumpkins to keep for months.
She added that pumpkins are ‘smart’ crops that can abort fruit when managing temperary heat stress, and may be adapting to the warmer weather experienced in recent years.
The overall picture for growers remains positive, despite the earlier harvest and smaller sizes. “The early indications are the crop looks very good but just a bit on the small side,” Smales added.
