Farmers go 'lo-fi' for Halloween with 1.6m pumpkins harvested

Growers have employed ‘lo-fi’ growing methods – techniques which require little to no technology – such as scarecrows to ward-off birds and maintain pumpkin quality
Growers have employed ‘lo-fi’ growing methods – techniques which require little to no technology – such as scarecrows to ward-off birds and maintain pumpkin quality

Cambridgeshire farmers are set to harvest 1.6 million pumpkins this Halloween with the adoption of 'lo-fi' growing methods.

Planted back in May, the growers, who supply Asda, have helped protect the crop by peppering the field with scarecrows to ward-off wayward birds.

Stationed between pumpkins, the scarecrows have helped growers cultivate almost two million pumpkins, keeping the birds at bay throughout the five-month growing period.

The scarecrow installation, which happens shortly after the pumpkin fields are propagated, which removes the risk of birds digging for seeds if fields are drilled instead, is accompanied by daily field walks by the growers.

The growers pinpoint issues in growth and determine when the best time to harvest might be.

Kevin Curson, pumpkin grower, said: “To grow the best-quality pumpkins possible – especially when battling unpredictable weather – requires a human touch and often, very simple methods to ensure we’re able to protect crops from seed to store.

“Halloween is the most important time of year for pumpkins, so to ensure each of the 1.6 million fruit we’ve grown this year is of the best quality possible, we take the time to walk the fields, dress our scarecrows and properly tend to the land to avoid damaging the plants.”

A Yorkshire farm is set to run its annual pumpkin festival, now in its eighth year. The farm has seen a rapid rise in popularity every Halloween.