Brits issued shortage warning ahead of Halloween - ‘horrendous’

Brits issued shortage warning ahead of Halloween - ‘horrendous’ Farmers have warned that a "horrendous" summer for crops could put a damper on people's Halloween plans. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Eleanor Burleigh 06:52, Tue, Oct 20, 2026 Updated: 06:59, Tue, Oct 20, 2026 The UK could become an unfriendly climate to pumpkin growth (Image: Getty) Brits preparing to celebrate Halloween have been warned a potential shortage could disrupt their plans following a "horrendous" summer. UK farmers have warned that pumpkin patches have been significantly impacted by this year's drought, with many crops struggling to grow and being much smaller. The summer saw widespread drought and several heatwaves, with the Met Office declaring in the warmest in the UK since records began. Liz Paterson and Andrew King, who run a pumpkin patch at Ruffins Farm in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk , have not been able to sell any of their crop this year because of the weather. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Ms Paterson told the Press Association: "The pumpkins just didn't grow this year. We could have tried to irrigate, we have got water, but we also have 500 breeding ewes, so we needed to give the water to them." In previous years, they have grown around 10,000 pumpkins, but this year only 50 developed. She added that the drought has been "horrendous for us financially but also emotionally because the grass didn't grow either for our sheep". "Because of the drought, we were struggling to feed or sheep and the pumpkins didn't grow at all, so it was really upsetting and worrying," she said. Get the day's biggest headlines in UK and World news and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . British farmers are afraid the El Nino weather pattern could usher in another drought next year, with Ms Paterson and Mr King potentially forced to make "big decisions" as a result. "But because the public know us for pumpkins and love them so much, we will spend the money on buying the seed, and we will drill the pumpkin patch again," Ms Paterson said. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Conscription age limit for men as UK told 'prepare for war' Andy Burnham confirms new time off work rule under April law change Pumpkins may be smaller and harder to get hold of this year (Image: Getty) "But if this doesn't work, then we'll have to start thinking this climate doesn't work for pumpkins," she continued. "What else can we do?" Niall Smith, who works at Picking Patch in the New Forest, also said it was "the second summer where we've had real water problems". Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Unlike previous seasons, the business has had to ask a local family farm to grow pumpkins for their Halloween events. He added: "We managed to get some pumpkins, but I mean, the biggest one is 50%, 60% smaller than what our normal sizes are. "And so we've kind of reimagined what we do. We have a pumpkin market, it all looks very pretty, but then we've gone very much into Halloween activities, and we're not just a pick-your-own site." Mr Smith said pumpkins are "a lot smaller" across the country this year. "I know there's lots of patches that have got very, very disappointing crops, and by half term they'll be out," he added. "There's no stock. You know, in normal years, if we need to, we can call up and find 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 pumpkins. This year, there's not a chance." Ross Wright, a farmer based in Exeter said there has been a national shortage of pumpkins, especially those larger in size."We're just going to have to grow more acres to get the pumpkins we need for Halloween every year," he said. Halloween Pumpkin Farming Hot weather Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments