Pumpkin patches in and around Nottinghamshire where you can pick your own

Some patches have Halloween trails and mazes available

It's that time of year again when schools are back and summer is officially over. With Autumn now in full swing the coffee shops have started rolling out the pumpkin-spiced drinks, the cosy jumpers have come out the wardrobe and signs have been popping up all over Nottinghamshire for pumpkin patches.

Picking your own pumpkins has become a tradition for many families in recent years, although many people still opt for the quicker and cheaper option of getting one from the supermarket. Maxey's Farm Shop near Newark is arguably one of the most well-known patches in Nottinghamshire and was once the biggest in the UK.

To help you make the most of the spooky season, we have rounded up all of the pumpkin patches in Nottinghamshire as well as a few from around the border.

Maxeys Farm Shop

Hockerton Road, Kirklington, Newark

From Saturday, October 5, the Pick Up A Pumpkin Field at Maxeys Farm Shop will open for 2024. The field will be open every day this month, with the opening hours gradually being reduced each day now that it is getting darker earlier. You don't need to book in advance but it is also important to remember that no dogs or other animals are allowed on the site.

Nottinghamshire 'Pick Your Own' Pumpkins

Oaks Lane, Oxton, Southwell

The Pick Your Own Pumpkins site in Oxton will soon be opening to the public. The experience will start on Saturday, October 12, and it will be open on selected days until Halloween. This includes Sunday, October 13, and from Saturday, October 19 until Thursday, October 31. Each of these days the site will be open from 9.30am until 5pm. There is no need to book to visit and the site also has free entry. There are thousands of pumpkins and squashes to be chosen, and in summer the site also has a sunflower experience over five acres.

Debdale Lane Pumpkin Patch

Debdale Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse

Already welcoming people to the field is the Debdale Lane Pumpkin Patch. The site opened for 2024 on Wednesday, October 2 and will be open from 9am to 5pm each day until October 31. As well as pumpkin picking the site also has a monster maze, which is a bit of extra fun for the kids.

School Farm Soft Fruit

Ollerton Road, West Drayton, Retford

You will also be able to pick your own pumpkins at School Farm from Friday, October 4. The popular farm near Retford does a variety of pick-your-own events throughout the year, including strawberries, sunflowers and wildflowers. In an update from a Facebook post on September 18, the farm announced that they had planted more than 150,000 pumpkin seeds across its two farms. This year there will be pumpkins of hundreds of different varieties, so whether you are wanting to carve a pumpkin or make soup, there will be one for you.

Oscar's Pumpkin Patch

Elms Farm, Leake Road, Costock

This pumpkin patch has over 12,000 pumpkins across 20 different varieties. As well as pumpkin picking, there is a play area, free parking, and seasonal vegetables on offer. However, an opening date for 2024 has not been confirmed yet.

Blackbrook Farm Pick Your Own Pumpkins and Christmas Trees

Blackbrook Farm, Loughborough

Although technically over the border and into Leicestershire, the pick-your-own-pumpkin event at Blackbrook Farm is one not to be missed. The farm plants over 6,000 pumpkins each year and opens annually for the last two weeks of October. There are ten different varieties to choose from. From November 25, 2024, the site will also be opening up its 20 acres of Christmas trees so families can come and choose a tree.

Mr Pumpkin

Lime Farm, Mansfield Road, Derby

The Mr Pumpkin patch is one of the earliest to open this year, with the 2024 season starting at the patch on Sunday, September 29. The patch will be open every weekend and some weekdays until Thursday, October 31. Opening times also vary depending on the date. You will need a ticket for this event, and these cost £2.50 per adult and children are free during non-peak times. However, during peak times tickets for those aged between three and 15 will cost £1. The site has its own pumpkin trail which raises money for the Air Ambulance, and there will also be activities like a bouncy castle and bungees.

Ashover Family Farm

Eastwood Lane, Chesterfield

From October 5 until October 31 the Ashover Family Farm pumpkin patch will be open. There is free parking on the site and free entry, with no need to buy a ticket in advance. There will be over 50,000 pumpkins on the site, as well as hot drinks and food options, such as burgers and hot chocolates. The site also holds sunflower and tulip field experiences earlier in the year.