Shoppers can expect fewer but bigger pumpkins on sale in the run-up to Halloween as a result of the UK’s wet summer, farmers and producers have warned.

The weather has squeezed supplies of the seasonal favourite, with major growers reporting “significant levels of rot” which have led to thousands being left to turn to pulp in the fields rather than heading for the supermarkets.

But while quality has been affected in some regions, intermittent bursts of sunshine have also led to larger than average squash, particularly when planted earlier in the season.

Ahead of peak pumpkin sales this weekend in the UKbefore Halloween, the producer Hammond – which supplies major retailers including Aldi – said growing conditions for the staple squash this year had been challenging due to above average rainfall in July and August.



“In our case we have rather more rotting in the fields than we would have liked or planned, which is tightening supplies,” said director John Hammond.

M&S’s new lasered pumpkin. Photograph: Courtesy of M&S

Julian Marks, managing director of the producer Barfoots, said crops in the eastern counties were worst affected. “There is a significant level of rot apparent in the crops,” he said. “This year’s growing conditions have led to fewer pumpkins, but they are bigger than normal.” The company expected to meet all its orders but would not have a surplus for export to Europe.

Halloween is a major money-spinner for supermarkets and has become the UK’s second largest retail festival after Christmas. An estimated 10m pumpkins are grown in the UK every year, with 95% carved into hollowed-out lanterns for Halloween and 5% used for soups, stews and pies.

But the rain this year has made pumpkin skins soft, which means that with extra humidity they get soggy and collapse and are left to rot in the soil. Hammond said supermarkets would make every effort to fill supply gaps to ensure shoppers were not disappointed while prices – agreed contractually nine months ago – would not be affected.

Asda expects to sell more than two million pumpkins – more than ever before – this season after planting many varieties earlier than usual back in May. It said the plentiful rain combined with recent warm weather had helped its pumpkins to flourish and grow bigger. Its extra-large varieties named Big Doris and Gladiator weigh up to 30kg – almost six times as much as the more common varieties of pumpkin.

“The British weather can be your best friend or worst enemy when it comes to harvest time,” said Asda’s pumpkin grower Kevin Curson.



Marks & Spencer is launching the UK’s first “lasered” pumpkins with spooky faces etched on to the skin to facilitate carving, using technology it trialled to “tattoo” avocados.

Meanwhile, Morrisons boasts 20 different varieties of pumpkin, including the ghostly white US variety and the so-called Frankenstein – grown in “monster moulds” over four months.