Halloween Is in Jeopardy: Due to the Heat, Pumpkins May Be Half the Size
This year’s pumpkins in the United Kingdom may turn out to be nearly half the size of usual and unsuitable for traditional jack-o’-lantern carving. This is due to record-breaking heat waves and a prolonged drought, which have negatively affected crop growth.
Orange pumpkins are traditionally one of the main symbols of Halloween. However, this year farmers warn that the pumpkins may be significantly smaller and their skin thicker, making it harder to carve figures into them.
“Orange pumpkins are traditionally one of the main symbols of this fall holiday, when people carve spooky faces and other shapes into them. However, farmers warn that this year’s pumpkins may be nearly half the size of usual. In addition, their skin has become thicker, making them harder to carve,” the article states.
One of the main reasons is the extremely high temperatures. When the air warms up to about +30 °C, pumpkin growth slows down.
In the United Kingdom, five consecutive heat waves were recorded from May through September, and temperatures above +30 °C persisted for a total of 40 days.
This period coincides with the most active phase of pumpkin growth, the authors note.
The situation was further complicated by a drought declared across much of England and Wales. Due to the water shortage, the plants were unable to reach their usual size.
“During the heatwave, the pumpkins simply stopped growing early, even when the soil was moist. The combination of water shortages and high temperatures was a double blow,” farmer David Coulter of Home Farm Pumpkins in Suffolk told The Telegraph.
Due to the small size of the pumpkins, some growers are already advising families to skip the traditional pumpkin carving this year.
Instead, they suggest drawing on the pumpkins or painting them for Halloween.
Other farmers see the situation as an opportunity to explain to children how weather conditions affect crop growth and why climate change could make food production more difficult in the future.
Gavin Lane, president of the Country Land and Business Group, noted that the current situation could serve as an opportunity for parents to talk to their children about the impact of weather on crop yields.
“This is a good time for parents to talk to their children about how weather affects crop growth and the potential challenges of growing vegetables in the future,” he said.
Pumpkins were by no means the only crop to suffer from the heat and drought.
Problems also arose with the potato harvest. In many farms, the tubers grew so small that McCain, a major producer of French fries, began purchasing last year’s stockpiles to keep its plants running.
Apple yields also decreased, and ripe fruit began to fall off the trees earlier than usual.
Cider producers, for their part, warn that the heat has led to higher sugar content in apples and pears. As a result, cider made from this year’s harvest may have a higher alcohol content.
This is reported by The Independent.
As a reminder, the AMFRESH Group has introduced a new variety of mandarins created specifically for Halloween. These mandarins have an unusual pumpkin shape, a sweet taste, and are seedless.
