Pumpkin picking on Long Island
Newsday, 2009 / Lorina Capitulo
It’s pumpkin time again.
If you want the best selection, plan to visit the u-pick fields at area farms early this year. September’s wet weather took a toll on Long Island’s crop — many growers expect to have fewer pumpkins for pickers to peruse.
“Part of the problem with leaving them in the field is that they’ll rot,” says Tim Kraszewski, owner of Seven Ponds Orchard in Water Mill, which offers a U-pick field, corn maze and playland.
To make your perfect pumpkins last longer, Kraszewski recommends spraying them with a light bleach and water solution or mild household cleaner to remove surface bacteria that encourages rot. Wipe the surface clean and let it dry completely.
Grower Bernie Mays, of Mays Pumpkin Farm in Wading River, suggests keeping your pumpkin in a cool, dry place for a few days when you first bring it home. This will help harden the skin, creating a natural protection.
“You want to keep it away from moisture as long as possible,” Mays says. “If a pumpkin is healthy and kept dry, it should keep a month or more. You could have that pumpkin all the way to Thanksgiving.” If you’re picking your own from the field, expect to pay from about 55 cents a pound to up to 70 cents or so. Specialty gourds may be priced higher. A few fields offer by-the-armload or wagonload prices. --Compiled by Sylvia E. King-Cohen
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Andrews Family Farm and Greenhouses Farm stand 1038 Sound Ave. Wading River PUMPKINS 59 cents a pound
ALSO HAS corn maze ($3), roasted corn ($2.50), fresh-baked pies, farmstand. -
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Benner’s Farm Zoo, Birthday party venues 56 Gnarled Hollow Rd. Setauket PUMPKINS 50 cents a pound (off the vine)
ADMISSION $6 adults ($5 ages 14 and younger) includes nature trails, farm animal visits -
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Borella's Farm Stand Farm stand 485 Edgewood Avenue St. James PUMPKINS 69 cents a pound
ALSO HAS Weekend fall festivals $10 admission (free younger than 3, discount coupon online) includes 2-acre by 2-acre kid-friendly corn maze, hayride through 30-acre farm, unlimited inflatable rides and DJ music. -
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Brightwaters Farms Farm stand 1624 Manatuck Blvd., Bay Shore PUMPKIN 65 cents a pound (off the vine)
ADMISSION $5 weekends and holidays (free ages 1 and younger), includes hayrides, playground, animal zoo and facepainting.
ALSO HAS Farmstand and concessions including roasted corn ($2). -
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Colonial Springs Farm Farm stand, Kids 201 Main Ave. Wheatley Heights PUMPKINS 65 cents to 75 cents per pound (off the vine).
ALSO HAS Little Farmer Playland ($5, open weekends only) with corn maze, silo slide, cow train and other activities; hayride ($2); pies, apple cider and farmstand. -
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Country Fair’s Trail of Horror Attractions 3351 Rt. 112, Medford PUMPKINS 50 cents a pound (some are priced $4.50 each)
ALSO HAS Fall festival with pay as you play activities ($2-$32), concession stand, go-karts, miniature gold mining, laser tag, hayride, inflatables. There’s also a haunted trail open 7-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays (weather permitting) that costs $14. -
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Elwood Pumpkin Farm Attractions 1500 Jericho Tpke. Huntington PUMPKINS $1-$20 (priced by size)
ALSO HAS Corn maze ($3), wagon ride ($6 aduts, $3 ages 10 and younger). -
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Gabrielsen’s Country Plant Farm Farm stand 1299 Main Rd. Jamesport
PUMPKINS By the pound
ALSO HAS corn maze and hay rides
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Garden of Eve Organic Farm and Market Farm stand 4558 Sound Ave. Riverhead PUMPKINS 69 cents a pound, organic and nonorganic, some grown on the farm, others trucked to field
ALSO HAS Fun path ($10, weekends and holidays) includes a cart track ride, pony ride, hayride and bounce house visit; farm stand open daily -
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Glover Farms Farm stand 633 Victory Road Brookhaven PUMPKINS 59 cents per pound (farm grown, but cut off vine)
CORN MAZE $5, free 3 and younger; theme is a chicken run, 10 acres, search for hidden chickens; haunted corn maze (7-11 p.m.) $14
ALSO HAS Hayrides ($3), day and evening corn mazes ($5-$14), straw mountain, kiddie games, farm animals, roasted corn.
ExploreTV: Hank's Pumpkintown
