"As farmers we always adapt" - farm owner says not as many pumpkins harvested this year
Ian Gilmore owns Laganvale Farm in Lisburn.
As Halloween approaches - there are fears not as many pumpkins as usual have been harvested this year.
It's being blamed on the cold and wet weather - and slugs
National Trust gardeners believe conditions last month meant a lot of pumpkins stopped growing and needed harvesting early.
Ian Gilmore owns Laganvale Farm in Lisburn, he has been growing pumpkins for 10 years.
The local farmer says he’s down by about 20% this year.
Speaking to CoolFM/Downtown news, he said: “The pumpkins went in this year in perfect conditions… but just the cold biting wind we had, I think we all felt it in July time, the pumpkins just sat there an didn’t get that initial burst of growth.”
“Our pumpkins are all homegrown here – and our climate is slightly cooler than what you would get in the south of England, where most of the pumpkins are coming from in the supermarkets.”
“With the bad weather we also don’t want them to rot in the field with insects or mice.”
“It’s just generally down to the weather. We introduced bees to our pumpkin patches as extra pollinators, and they have done a good job. If we hadn’t had done that it would’ve been worse – they’re doing a fantastic job.
“As farmers we always adapt… So hopefully we’ll have enough to get through and these guys behind me will be nice and orange for Halloween.”