LONG VALLEY, NJ — Heading out to a patch or field around Long Valley to pick the best or biggest pumpkin isn't just about finding the perfect Halloween jack-o'-lantern.
It's one of those fall traditions that gets people outside, into the fields and together with family and friends — with a little fresh air, a little dirt and, ideally, a pumpkin worth hauling home.
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Many pumpkin patches and fields make a day of it, with hayrides, corn mazes, games for the kids and other seasonal activities. Picking your own pumpkin also supports the local farmers who planted, tended and harvested the crop.
Whether you plan to 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 Long Valley. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Ort Farms, 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley: This family-owned farm offers pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides, farm animals and children's activities. The farm market is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., while pick-your-own fields operate from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m. Hayrides are available daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission fees apply during Fall Festival Weekends. Visit ortfarms.com for more information.
- Middle Valley Farms, 304 Pleasant Valley Road, Mendham: Pumpkin picking, hayrides, a six-acre corn maze and a hay maze are among the fall attractions at this Mendham farm. The farm stand is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 25, as well as Monday, Oct. 12. There are no general admission or parking fees. Visit middlevalleyfarms.com for more information.
- Stony Hill Farms, 15 North Road, Chester: Visitors can head into the fields to pick pumpkins or purchase them at the farm market. The farm also features a 10-acre corn maze, gemstone mining and weekend hayrides to the pumpkin patch. Pumpkin picking is available daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4 p.m. Admission starts at $7.99 per person online or $10.99 at the gate, plus tax. Visit stonyhillfarms.com for details.
- Alstede Farms, 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester: This popular Chester destination offers pumpkin picking, tractor-drawn wagon rides, a corn maze and other family-friendly fall attractions. Pick-your-own hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekends and holidays, with fields closing at 6 p.m. Admission is required, and prices vary by date and package. Visit alstedefarms.com for tickets and availability.
- Donaldson Farms, 358 Allen Road, Hackettstown: Families can pick their own pumpkins, explore a corn maze and enjoy seasonal activities at this Warren County farm. Pumpkin picking is available daily until 5 p.m., while the farm market is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fall Harvest Weekends feature hayrides and activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., along with pony visits from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., subject to change. There is no general entrance fee, and pumpkins are priced by the pound. Visit donaldsonfarms.net for more information.
Visitors should check each farm's website before heading out, as pumpkin availability, admission costs, and activities may change depending on weather and field conditions.
How To Carve A Jack-o'-Lantern
Keep in mind that carving and baking pumpkins aren't the same. The former are grown in fields to be large, more vibrantly colored, and relatively hollow. The watery flesh doesn't have the same flavor as baking pumpkins, which tend to be smaller, have thicker, harder-to-carve walls and sweeter flesh. For those, you'll probably need to head to the grocery store.
Pumpkins for carving should appear sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season. Here are some tips for carving a perfect jack-o'-lantern from Warren Nash on YouTube, who shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.
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:
- Curved boning knife, or serrated knife from the kitchen
- Ice cream scoop or scraper
- Paper
- Pencil or pen
- Candle or battery-operated light
- Lighter
Steps
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin, and step back and admire your work. A battery-operated light is the safer option.