Monster pumpkins down on the farm
BUNGALOW Farm has defied the erratic weather this summer and grown some of the biggest, monster pumpkins it has ever seen.
The mushroom farm on Heatons Bridge Road in Scarisbrick has nurtured the crop all summer and is now ready to open on Saturday, October 12 just in time for Hallowe’en.
The farm is 32 years old and is a family business with James Houghton, 47, and his sister taking it over from their mum and dad.
They’ve been working late into the evenings as it has been a difficult season for pumpkin growing with many of them rotting.
James said: “It’s been a lot of hard work but it’s been bad for everyone with the weather we’ve had lately.
“We have had a fair amount of torrential downpours which wash the nutrients out of the ground so we’ve had to use folia feeds.
“The pumpkins have liked the amount of rain though and its created some giant monsters this year!”
The farm is well known for its variety and this year will be no exception.
James said: “Every year it gets bigger and bigger and we’ve adapted to follow the Americans’ love of Hallowe’en.
“We’ve got Atlantic giants down to miniature ones and both orange and white all shapes and sizes.
“This year we’ve got new butternut squash and ornamental gourds for the more adventurous.
“It’s great when people come to get their pumpkins for Hallowe’en. Some people just absolutely love Hallowe’en and they’re like a kid in a toy store. They go home with lots or can’t resist getting a giant one!”
James’ children Harry, 11 and Evie, five, often help out with the pumpkin patch also.
The farm has adapted to include children in the pumpkin picking experience.
James said: “We have a mini ‘pick your own pumpkins area’ for kids with mini-pedal tractors and wheelbarrows. We also have specially grown miniature pumpkins for £1. I think it can be quite difficult for kids as they’ve only got little hands and picking up the pumpkins can be quite difficult, so we wanted a way for them to join in the experience.”
To find out, more about Bungalow Farm’s pumpkin patch, visit @bungalowfarmscarisbrick