Pumpkins Near Montgomeryville: Where To Find The Pick Of The Patch

MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA — It’s that time of year again. Pumpkin products are popping up on shelves and the pumpkin spice latte is back on drink menus nationwide.

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 near Montgomeryville and Lansdale.

Here are a few suggestions.(Patch has either confirmed hours on the farm website, or over the phone):

• Cedar Hollow Farm (2475 Quakertown Road, Pennsburg PA 18073). Corn maze, farm market, and fall festivities open Saturdays and Sundays (Sept. 10-Oct. 30) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Freddy Hill Farms (1440 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale PA 19446). Freddy Hill is selling pumpkins in their greenhouse but not doing a pumpkin patch, a representative said.
• Kohler Farms (12626 Limekiln Pike, Prospectville PA 19002). Hay rides and pick your own pumpkin begins Oct. 1, with other fall activities available too. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kohler Farms also hosts school groups throughout the year.
• Merrymead Farm (2222 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale PA 19446). Fall Harvest Days begin weekends Oct. 1 and 2; Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m.
• Northern Star Farm (112 East Third Ave., Trappe PA 19426). Fall Fest runs weekends from Sept. 17 to Oct. 30. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sugartown Strawberries (650 Sugartown Road, Malvern PA 19355). Hayrides and pick-your-own pumpkins are available; autumn "kickoff" is Sept. 24 with hay rides all day long on the weekends, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Pre-picked pumpkins and other fall decor are available.
• Yeager's Farm and Market (1015 Pikesprings Road, Phoenixvilla PA 19640). Hay rides on the weekend run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a pumpkin patch and corn maze. The Fall Festival is Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tips and tricks for the perfect jack-o-lantern

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.

Materials

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.