Two Patches, Lots of Pumpkins

There are plenty of grocery stores in Santa Cruz proper selling pumpkins this year, but there is only one patch—The Great Pumpkin Patch.

It's at the same spot on Mission Street that it's been at for years. In fact, the family-owned pumpkin patch marks 30 years in business this year.

While you might not find Linus—or any of the Peanuts gang, for that matter—in the patch, there is no shortage of pumpkins. They run the gamut from tiny, Barbie-size pumpkins to mid-size pumpkins, pumpkins for cooking and pumpkins for carving and pumpkins of all colors—white, red, gray and even blue.

The blue pumpkin makes tasty pies, said Talia Raine, who runs the Great Pumpkin Patch.

"It's the best pumpkin pie you'll ever eat," she said.

One of her favorite varieties is called Colors of the World and produces pumpkins in a variety of colors—all on the same vine. One plant can create red, white, blue and pink pumpkins.

She credits her vast selection to a good relationship with the farmer she works with.

"He gives us special kinds," she said.

One across town

While not technically in city limits, there is one other patch in Santa Cruz that should be checked out before Halloween.

New Life Community Services Center runs the only nonprofit pumpkin patch in Santa Cruz. The patch is on the corner of Thurber Lane and Soquel Drive in the unincorporated area.

In its fourth year, the patch is open daily through the end of October. And the day after Thanksgiving, it turns into a Christmas tree lot.

Chris Young, who mans the lot, loves the white ones.

"They make cool pumpkins," he said. He likes the ghostly look. "Red and green tend to get etched a lot for the contrast."

Whether frequenting the long-time family owned patch or the patch benefiting a nonprofit, there are plenty of options for finding the perfect pumpkin in Santa Cruz.