Where To Pick A Pumpkin Near Miami

MIAMI, FL — Signs of fall are everywhere, from cooler nights and turning leaves, to pumpkin spice lattes and other products, and a sea of orange pumpkins in front of the grocery store.

But maybe you want the real deal — an actual pumpkin — in your home this season. Whether you’re planning to bake a pie, carve a jack-o’-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin in the Miami area.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Tinez Farms Pumpkin Patch, 16405 SW 177th Ave., Miami. Open through Nov. 19, Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Lincoln Road Pumpkin Patch, 690 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Open Oct. 27-31.
• Poinciana United Methodist Church, 300 N. Royal Poinciana Blvd., Miami Springs. Open Oct. 16-31, Monday through Friday, 2 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Hope at Miami Lakes United Methodist Church, 14800 NW 67th Ave., Miami Lakes. Open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Oct. 31.
• The Berry Farm Harvest Festival, 13720 SW 216th Street, Miami. Runs Saturday and Sunday only through Nov. 5.
• Pinto’s Farm, 14890 SW 216th Street, Miami. Open Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., through Nov. 5.

And if your pumpkin is destined for a starring role on Halloween night, here’s our guide to carving a perfect jack-o’-lantern. Warren Nash on YouTube also 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:

• Pumpkin. Unless you have a pumpkin-growing operation in the backyard, you'll need to pick out one you like from your local pumpkin patch or a store. Make sure it looks sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season.
• Curved boning knife, or serrated knife from the kitchen.
• Ice cream scooper or scraper
• Paper
• Pencil or pen
• Candle or battery-operated light
• Lighter

Steps

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin then admire your work.