Yes, it's true they sell pumpkins at Gristedes, Trader Joe's, your local grocery store, even Whole Foods.
Big bonus points to those who venture to a farm to get their pumpkins this season, though.
Scooping out goop from the inside of a pumpkin for the purpose of sculpting it into a scary shape is just so much more fun when you've picked that pumpkin yourself.
So where in and around the 5 boroughs can you get your hands dirty by browsing and buying pumpkins in an actual farm?
Well, stick with us and prepare to be astounded. Read on below to find out where you can pick the best pumpkins in and around New York City.
And in the midst of all this pumpkin picking, you'll also be surrounded by the most crazy gorgeous fall foliage.
(P.S., if you're wild about all this picking, make sure you check out these apple picking farms while you're at it, too.)
1. Queens County Farm Museum (73-50 Little Neck Parkway - Queens)
This farm is where it's at. It's a historical colonial farmhouse with 47 acres of sustainable lands, plus educational programs and tours.
It's NYC's largest tract of undisturbed farmland, and they've got a corn maze and a haunted house. Now let's get down to what we're really interested in, which are, of course, the pumpkins.
October, of course, is pumpkin month at this Queens farm.
You'll get to maneuver your way through their patch to find your perfect pumpkins. You can also buy pumpkins in their Gift Shop, which is sort of a snooze compared to hitting the farm and picking it on your own.
2. Decker Farm (435 Richmond Hill Road - Staten Island)
The other farm located within the five boroughs, Decker Farm hosts pumpkin picking weekends on weekends in October from 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. (except October 10th).
Their pumpkin patch farm costs $6 per entry at the door, and consists of a cornstalk maze, arts and crafts, and face painting.
Decker Farm consists of 11 acres of land with a farmhouse and two barns. It's NYC's oldest continuously working family style farm, and was officially designated an NYC landmark in 1967.
There's also free shuttle bus service from the Historic Richmond Town parking lot, if you've got a car.
If not, get yourselves on that ferry and get to Decker Farm. You'll have to take the S74 bus from the ferry to Richmond Road and St. Patrick's Place, but it'll be worth it for a day of pumpkin picking, right?
3. The New York Botanical Garden (2900 Southern Blvd - the Bronx)
seabreezes56 #fall #fallday #fallfun #nyc #nybg #bronx #halloween #hauntedpumpkingarden @nybg #2014fall #2014halloween
The Haunted Pumpkin Garden at The New York Botanical Garden isn't pumpkin picking per say, but it is one of NYC's dopest event involving pumpkins during the fall season, hence it has been included on this list.
On October 19th and 20th, giant pumpkins from around the world, all weighing in at about 1,800 pounds each, will arrive at The Botanical Garden. They've been arranged in collaboration with the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth.
If you watch The Food Network, you probably know who Ray Villafane is. If you don't, he's a famous guy from the Food Network.
Villafane and his team will transform these pumpkins, all winners of global weigh-offs, will be transformed to stunning works of art. They'll be carved into bats, ghosts, cats, and spiders.
If you attend this carving debacle, you'll also enjoy a question and answer session with the carvers as well as seasonal treats provided by Whole Foods.
,4. Stuart's Farm (62 Granite Springs Road - Granite Springs)
the_tammiest Pumpkin picking in upstate New York. #NotBasic #Fall #Autumn #AutumnInNewYork #NYC #Pumpkin #Patch #Farm #StuartsFarm #Outdoors #Nature #Beautiful #Gorgeous #秋天 #南瓜 #紐約
Stuart's Fruit Farm has been family-operated since 1828, which in case you didn't realize, is a very long time.
It's only an hour from the city, which is excellent news for all the pumpkin enthusiasts in our city that seems to be suffering from a grievous dearth of pumpkin farms. Their pumpkin picking begins in October.
They've also got fresh produce and delicious apple cider donuts, which everyone knows are fall requisites. Plus, of course, their weekend hayride around the orchard, which is not to be missed.
Grab a picnic with your crew to enjoy the fall foliage before you head back into the city limits.
5. Amawalk Farm (42 Wood Street - Katonah)
Amawalk Farm's produce is 100% organic, which renders them the only certified growers in Westchester County. Congrats, Amawalk Farm!
They also use sustainable practices to keep the environment in good shape on their 32-acre farm. They've got an 1825 farm house and their land's been farmed since the early 1800s. They support local, sustainable agriculture every way they can.
They've got a tractor pulled hayride, and pumpkins from early September through mid-October. They're open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
6. Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard (130 Hardscrabble Road - North Salem)
Every weekend in September and October Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard holds their fall festival. This includes all the fall goodies; hayrides, apple picking, pumpkin picking, and BBQ food. Admission to the Fall Festival costs $5.
This goes down from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and also includes live music, a bounce house, apple cannons, freshly made apple cider donuts, and visits with farm animals.
Does it get better?
Well yeah, because in addition to their pumpkins, they've got wine tastings every weekend. They'll offer tastings of their Hardscrabble Cider every weekend. Who wants to get tipsy and then pick some pumpkins? We know we do.
Plus, the farm is gorgeous, so there's always that.
Check out 7 Feel-Good Comfort Foods & Where To Get ‘Em This Fall in NYC.
[via 1041 The Dock]

