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Suffolk pumpkin farm grew just 50 instead of 10,000 as Britain faces a Halloween shortage after scorching summer

Suffolk pumpkin farm grew just 50 instead of 10,000 as Britain faces a Halloween shortage after scorching summer

Liz Paterson and Andrew King had water to spare at Ruffins Farm in Bury St Edmunds but chose to save it for their 500 breeding ewes. Paterson said the heat stopped the crop pollinating, calling the drought 'horrendous' financially and emotionally. The Met Office declared it the warmest UK summer since records began. Data suggests 2026 could be England's worst pumpkin harvest on record.

New Forest attraction Picking Patch says even its outsourced pumpkins came out 50 to 60 per cent smaller.

Riverford founder Guy Singh-Watson said it was time to question 'our obsession with giant carving pumpkins'.

Paterson warned: 'We'll have to start thinking this climate doesn't work for pumpkins.'

MoreGB NewsBritons to carve smaller pumpkins this Halloween after ‘worst harvest on record’LBCHalloween nightmare as UK faces pumpkin shortage after scorching summerThe GuardianSquash down: smaller pumpkins expected this Halloween after drought in EnglandMetro.co.ukHere's why you shouldn't be spooked if your pumpkins are smaller this HalloweenRTÉ IrelandSummer drought impacts UK pumpkin crops ahead of HalloweenUA.NEWSSmaller Halloween pumpkins expected in England due to drought — The Guardian - UA.NEWS
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