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Farmer warns pumpkin patches may not survive scorching summers
Farmers say losses have reached 50% in some fields, leaving smaller pumpkins, sparse displays and higher costs for Halloween attractions.
- Britain's pumpkin patches face a significantly reduced harvest this year after a scorching summer ruined growing conditions, threatening the annual Halloween tradition for families across the nation.
- The UK saw only 77% of average summer rainfall, with parts of southern and eastern England experiencing 62 consecutive days without rain, creating drought conditions that halted pumpkin growth.
- Eleanor Gilbert, 24, who runs the Berkshire Farm Girl Pumpkin Patch, reported her crop is down 50% and spent $8,000 on seeds alone, with one variety yielding just one pumpkin from 1,000 planted.
- Farmers now face increased costs, with irrigation systems for crops costing upwards of $20,000 and wheat yields down 40%, costing $80 an acre rather than turning a profit.
- Climate trends threaten pumpkin farming's viability; Gilbert said, "I am looking at whether this could be my last ever pumpkin harvest if I can't afford to carry on going.
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Total News Sources10
Leaning Left0Leaning Right4Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
C 60%
R 40%
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