Where To Pick Pumpkins Near Ellington And Somers

ELLINGTON-SOMERS, CT — The hunt for a Halloween pumpkin is a good excuse to get outside, wander a farm and spend a fall afternoon with family or friends.

Some trips are about finding a jack-o'-lantern for the front steps. Others leave room for a hayride, a corn maze or a stop for something to eat. Irish Bend Orchard in Somers and Johnny Appleseed's Farm in Ellington offer local options, with more fall activities at Foster Family Farm in South Windsor.

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Here are places to pick or pick out a pumpkin near Ellington and Somers this fall. Check the linked farm updates before leaving, since weather, crop availability and activity schedules can change.

Where To Find Pumpkins

Johnny Appleseed's Farm, 13 Schoolhouse Road, Ellington: Pumpkins, a corn maze and fall wagon rides. CTvisit lists a 9 a.m. opening, with seasonal closing times. Call 860-875-1000 for current field hours.

Irish Bend Orchard, 90 Pioneer Heights Road, Somers: Fridays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; weekends, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Patch pumpkins are $6. Free weekend hayrides run 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Foster Family Farm, 90 Foster St., South Windsor: Pumpkins, hayrides and corn mazes. Daytime hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. through Nov. 1, except Oct. 17, when daytime hours end at 4 p.m. General admission sales end at 4:30 p.m. on regular days; check admission options before visiting.

Check whether a ticket covers the activities you want and whether pumpkins cost extra. A farm-store display and a pick-your-own field offer different experiences; the listings above identify shopping options where a field-picking trip is not advertised.

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How To Carve A Jack-o'-Lantern

Start with a sturdy pumpkin that sits flat and has enough room for your design. Skip one with soft spots or obvious damage. Carry it from the bottom rather than by its stem.

If you also want a pumpkin for baking, ask for a sugar or pie pumpkin. The larger pumpkins used for jack-o'-lanterns and smaller cooking varieties serve different purposes; farm stands may sell both.

Gather a pumpkin-carving saw or kit, a scoop or sturdy spoon, paper, a pencil and a battery-operated light. Cover your work surface and keep it dry. Adults should handle the cutting; children can help scoop and draw.

1. Make an opening. Cut a lid large enough to fit your hand and scoop. Angle the cut so the lid's outside edge is wider than the opening beneath it, keeping it from falling inside.
2. Scoop it out. Remove the seeds and stringy pulp, then scrape the inside walls clean.
3. Plan the face. Draw your design on paper first. Tape it to the pumpkin and transfer the outline, or draw directly on the skin.
4. Carve slowly. Work along the outline with small, controlled cuts. Keep your free hand clear of the blade and avoid forcing the tool through the pumpkin.
5. Light it up. Put a battery-operated light inside, replace the lid and set your jack-o'-lantern where visitors can enjoy it.

For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.