Pick Of The Patch: Where To Find A Pumpkin Near Rohnert Park, Cotati

ROHNERT PARK-COTATI, CA — It’s that time of year again. Pumpkin products are popping up on shelves and the pumpkin spice latte is back on drink menus nationwide.

But maybe you want the real deal — an actual pumpkin — in your home this season. Whether you’re planning to bake a pie, carve a jack-o’-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin near Rohnert Park and Cotati.

Here are a few suggestions in the North Bay:

AMERICAN CANYON: SEPT. 24-OCT. 31: ABC Pumpkin Patch - Inflatables, Paint Ball & Pony Rides. With pumpkins & photo ops.

DIXON: SEPT. 24-OCT. 31: Cool Patch Pumpkins. Pumpkins, gourds, squash, more. Plus hay maze, hay ride, corn bath, photo ops, concession stand.

FAIRFIELD: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily (except Wednesday). Larry's Produce. Many varieties of specialty pumpkins, as well as regular pumpkins, giant pumpkins, and mini pumpkins. We grow all of our pumpkins ourselves. Fun family activities which are all FREE, including a corn "bath," straw pyramid, corn maze, more. Plus hay rides and "cow train" rides on the weekends.

HEALDSBURG: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Daily: Foggy River Pumpkin Patch. Fields of beautiful pumpkins, gourds and winter squash are surrounded by a backdrop of the Russian River Valley. Our fairytale scavenger hunt is fun for kids of all ages.

HEALDSBURG: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Daily: Grandma's Pumpkin Patch. Plenty of pumpkins, gourds and fun! Farm animals, a hay stack for climbing, noodles for stringing necklaces, and old tractors for "driving" your child's imagination.

LARKSPUR: OCT. 1-31: Honor Pumpkin Patch: Marin Country Mart. "Locally grown GIANT pumpkin on display."

NAPA: OCT. (opening day TBA): Stanly Lane Pumpkin Patch

NICASIO: SEPT. 24-OCT. 31: Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch. Traditional pumpkin patch plus hay rides, face painting, barbecue, fun crafts, petting zoo, hay mazes, shave ice, more.

PETALUMA: SEPT. 23-OCT. 31. Mickelson Pumpkin Patch. Great selection of pumpkins plus hay maze, grain train, hay pyramid, paintball, apple cannon, jump zone, pony rides.

PETALUMA: SEPT. 23-OCT. 31: Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and The Amazing Corn Maze. Over 50 varieties of pumpkins (including giant ones), squash and gourds on 5 acres. Plus the corn maze and night maze; covered snack area, face-painting, balloon creations, pony rides, carnival slide and inflatables.

PETALUMA: OCT. (opening day TBA): Peter Pumpkin Patch at Petaluma Creamery. Corn maze, hay wagon ride, cow-milking demos, Western Town, more.

PETALUMA: OCT. (opening day TBA): Pronzini Farms Pumpkin Patch. Pumpkin picking plus haunted guided trail, Western Village, Cowgirl Cafe and pony rides.

SANTA ROSA: SEPT. 30-OCT. 31: Muelrath Ranches Pumpkin Patch. Full range of products plus hay ride, haunted dungeon, pumpkin slingshot and pumpkin cannon.

SANTA ROSA: OCT. (opening day TBA): Punky's Pumpkins. Big, beautiful pumpkins and a wide variety of squash.

SANTA ROSA: OCT. 7-31: Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch. Pumpkins and gourds, plus 5-acre corn maze, hay ride, pumpkin blaster, inflatable slide, bounce house, pony rides, face-painting and much more.

SEBASTOPOL: OCT. 1-31: PaPa's Pumpkin Patch. During pumpkin season, come pick your own, right off the vine. Choose from seven varieties of pumpkins in the field. Enjoy the beautiful, peaceful setting, in the shadows of old-growth Redwoods.

SUISUN CITY: OCT. 15-16, 22-23, 29-30: Pumpkin Patch Festival & Train Rides: Western Railway Museum. Fun includes tractor rides, hay fort, pumpkin chucking & petting zoo.

And if your pumpkin is destined for a starring role on Halloween night, here's our guide to carving a perfect jack-o’-lantern. Warren Nash on YouTube also shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.

Materials

Pumpkin carving kits will go a long way in getting what you need. They typically include saws, a scooper, a drill and multiple patterns.

If you're looking for the items individually around the house, here's what you could use:

• Pumpkin. Unless you have a pumpkin-growing operation in the backyard, you'll need to pick out one you like from your local pumpkin patch or a store. Make sure it looks sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season.
• Curved boning knife, or serrated knife from the kitchen.
• Ice cream scooper or scraper
• Paper
• Pencil or pen
• Candle or battery-operated light
• Lighter

Steps

1. Cut it: If cutting from the top of the pumpkin, make sure to do it on an inward angle so the top won't drop inside the pumpkin when you put it back on. Michael Natiello, creative director for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze, said it's better to cut the pumpkin from the bottom, in a series of pumpkin carving tips from Good Housekeeping. That helps prevent the sides from caving in later.
2. Gut it: Use the ice cream scoop, or your hands, to remove all the seeds and other debris from inside the pumpkin. Do a thorough cleaning and make sure nothing is left sticking to the sides.
3. Trace it: Draw your design on a piece of paper before putting it on the pumpkin itself. That way, it is easier to trace the design onto the pumpkin.
4. Make the cuts: Cut out the design. Natiello said to use a fork or pencil to poke holes around the lines. When cutting, get the big pieces of pumpkin out first and clean up the edges later.
5. Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin then admire your work.