A pumpkin shortage is looming this Halloween as crops have been heavily impacted by wet weather and a significant slug infestation, according to Wales Online. The National Trust has reported that September’s cold and damp conditions led to many plants ceasing growth prematurely, resulting in reduced yields of pumpkins and squashes just ahead of the festive season. Kingston Lacy in Dorset had to harvest its produce a month earlier than usual, salvaging only half of its usual crop due to adverse weather conditions. Andrew Hunt, the head gardener at Kingston Lacy, noted that pumpkins require a long and warm growing season to thrive, but the unfavourable spring weather delayed germination, with a cool and wet summer further hindering growth.
Arlington Court in Devon also faced a disappointing season, attributing the loss of over 150 plants to poor weather and a surge in slug activity. Nostell in West Yorkshire, known for producing around 80 pumpkins and squash, has seen a stark decrease this year with only 25 fruits available. The garden and outdoors manager, Paul Dibb, highlighted that the wet spring and summer led to relentless slug attacks on young plants, impacting the crop yield significantly. Rebecca Bevan, a plant health and sustainability consultant at the National Trust, acknowledged the challenging growing conditions in 2024 but emphasized that the rain had a positive impact on other garden plants by preventing drought stress.
To deter slugs and snails, gardeners are advised to use copper tape around pots and employ mulches like gravel, wood shavings, or sharp sand. Despite the setbacks, some gardens such as Tyntesfield near Bristol and Calke Abbey in Derbyshire managed to recover from a slow start to the pumpkin season. Heloise Brooke, head gardener at Calke Abbey, shared that although some pumpkins had to be resown due to slug damage, they eventually caught up and will be displayed in the garden. On the other hand, Dunham Massey near Manchester reported that all their pumpkin plants were devoured by slugs when young, resulting in a complete lack of pumpkins for this season.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent also experienced a slight reduction in pumpkin production due to lower bumblebee populations acting as important pollinators. The cold and wet conditions at the start of summer hampered the presence of pollinating insects needed for fertilisation. Despite these challenges, some gardens were able to address the setbacks and ensure a decent pumpkin display for visitors this autumn. The National Trust continues to monitor the situation and offers advice to gardeners on how to navigate slug invasions and poor growing conditions to preserve their crops.