Farm prepares for first ever pumpkin crop
Preparations are beginning for the first ever harvest of pumpkins at Canalside Farm, near Stafford. The family-run farm, which is most famous for its delicious strawberries, farm shop and cafe, has planted1,500 pumpkins, for visitors to pick and enjoy in time for the Halloween season.
Chris Barton, owner of the Farm, said: “We are very excited about our first ever pumpkin crop and hope that people will come and enjoy this new ‘pick your own’ experience as well as the activities we have planned over the Halloween period. The cooks in our café have also been thinking of ways in which they can incorporate pumpkins on the menu and have come up with various dishes such as pumpkin pie, soup and even pumpkin cupcakes!”
Pumpkin plants usually give a yield of 2-3 pumpkins per plant, so the Farm could see a harvest of as many as 4,500! But as it’s their first year, they are predicting a more conservative number of 2,000, an ample number for the public to pick and for their pumpkin carving events during Halloween.
The Farm grows a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, including strawberries, raspberries and blackberries available seasonally from the farm shop and are used as ingredients in their Canalside Café.
