YoCo Twist Blog
Don't be like Linus and wait all night in the pumpkin patch for a great pumpkin to arrive -- get out and find one yourself!
York County is teeming with prolific pumpkin patches, and you can traipse among the vines to find a gorgeous gourd just for you. Pick-your-own pumpkin experiences make a perfect weekend activity for the family, and we're here to help make sure you go home with the pumpkin perfect for Halloween.
How do you know a pumpkin is ready to be picked?
Before you pluck your pumpkin from the vine, take a few moments to inspect it. Roll it around to make sure it has no holes or damage. Look for a vibrant uniform color and a strong green stem. Those are sure signs a pumpkin is ready to be picked.
There's also a simple test you can use to ensure that orange oblong is ready for its next life as a jack-o-lantern. The pumpkin will also be firm enough that slight pressure from a fingernail will not cut the flesh.
Is there a proper way to pick a pumpkin?
Once you've identified your pumpkin, don't just rip it from the vine. You'll want to extract it without damaging the fruit or the plant. To pick from the vine, hold the stem at the top of the dark green color and gently pull the light-colored softer vines away. The goal is to keep the stem as long as possible, without cutting the plant more than necessary.
Once it's off the vine, don't carry it by the stem, or you might find yourself picking your splattered pumpkin off the parking lot. Instead, bear-hug that beautiful gourd to carry it from the patch. That'll keep it safe for sure.
Does it matter whether you want to carve it or cook it?
It does!
If it's a pie that you'd like to make, the pumpkins that make the best jack-o-lanterns probably won't make the tastiest dessert. Experts agree you'll want a long-neck pumpkin instead. They have the most fruit -- and it's sweeter. All the better for pumpkin pie!
If you want to make a spooky jack-o-lantern that will delight trick-or-treaters this Halloween, then your mission is clear. You'll want a tall and wide pumpkin with plenty of room for cutting. The best carving pumpkins are typically 25-30 pounds and sit upright.
How to make sure your jack-o-lantern stays fresh all fall?
You'll find no fresher pumpkin than one straight from a farmer's patch.
But here is a nifty trick you can use to extend your pumpkin's haunting season. Just mix a weak chlorine solution with household bleach in a five-gallon bucket, then dunk the entire carved pumpkin or brush the solution over the surface to keep it free of decay.
You'll need about three teaspoons of bleach in three gallons of water for the solution. It's super simple -- and ensures you won't have any sad, sagging jack-o-lanterns adorning your porch this fall.
OK, where can you actually PICK a pumpkin?
The most important question! Here are just a few places in York County you can go to find the perfect pumpkin!
Flinchbaugh's Orchards -- Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch opened in September and will be open Monday-Saturday through November 2. The market will be stocked with ornamental pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and more decorative items. Flinchbaugh's also features pick your own apples, sunflowers, and a fun corn maze!
Maple Lawn -- PYO pumpkin season starts mid-September and runs every weekend through the end of October. Typically more than 100,000 pumpkins of every shape, color and size await to find their home. The folks at Maple Lawn say their pumpkins aren't just picked, they're adopted.
Mt. Airy Orchards -- You could spend hours roaming the whole 15 acres of pumpkins at Mt. Airy Orchards looking for just the right pumpkins for carving, painting, cooking or fall decor. The pumpkin patch is open mid-September through October.
Orchard Valley Farm -- This Seven Valleys farm grows more than two dozen types of pumpkins and is open Tuesday through Saturday. Please note: cash or check only. Call the picking line at 717-850-0079 for what’s ripe and the current field report. The fields will close earlier than the posted times if all of the ripe fruit is picked or for poor weather.
Shaw Orchards -- The large field of pumpkins is high on a hill with gorgeous views. The farm is open through Thanksgiving and is located on the PA/MD line, where PA route 24 meets MD route 23, which makes addresses a little complicated! For GPS, use 5594 Norrisville Rd, White Hall MD.
White Clover Family Farm – This is a great destination for decorative pumpkin stacks of varying sizes. Treat yourself to a visit early on a Saturday for Bread Day and say hello to the farm animals while you are there.
Let us know how your PYO adventures are going on social media. Tag posts and photos with #ExploreYorkPA to be part of the conversation. For more great ideas on what to do each month in York County, sign up for our Getaway Guide e-newsletter.
