Pumpkin Picking days in Groningen

To be completely honest, the first pumpkins I ever saw lying in a field were on the island of Kythira in Greece. It was a sort of 'eureka' moment—nature can really produce some beautiful things! I don’t know much about it myself, but now that autumn has officially begun, it's time for me to dive into the phenomenon of pumpkins. And… can you pick pumpkins in Groningen? Let's find out!

What is a pumpkin?

The pumpkin is a member of the melon, gourd, and cucumber family and falls under the Cucurbitaceae family—a great word for Scrabble. Pumpkins originate from North America and can grow to be quite large and heavy. Whether they are still tasty at that size, I don't know. 

The world's biggest pumpkin

The world's largest pumpkin was grown in 2023 by Travis Gienger from Anoka, Minnesota, in the United States. This mega-pumpkin weighed a whopping 1,247 kg and was named 'Michael Jordan.' The competition was the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. I find that hilarious! In America, as well as in Europe, you have similar pumpkin competitions. 

Biggest Pumpkin in the Netherlands

A few days ago, in Eindhoven, the Dutch Championship Pumpkin Growing took place: NK Pompoen Kweken. The Dutch champion was Luc Vanheuckelom with a weight of 839 kg. Read more. Growing the largest pumpkin seems especially popular among men—just kidding ;-) I have no idea!

Pumpkins as a symbol of autumn

Pumpkins are also somewhat symbolic of autumn, and right now, you can find the cutest pumpkin decorations in supermarkets and flower shops. In America, pumpkins are used for making 'Jack-O-Lanterns' on October 31st for Halloween, and children go Trick-or-Treating with their pumpkin lanterns. Adults also dress up during Halloween. In the Netherlands, Halloween is mostly limited to local themed parties, I believe. In the Netherlands, Saint Martin is a more popular event for children. In the neighborhood, children go door-to-door with their lanterns, or in Groningen, a hollowed-out sugar beet is used during Saint Martin. From hollowed-out sugar beets, back to pumpkins.

How does a pumpkin seed become a big, fat pumpkin?

Pumpkins grow best in a temperate climate with warm summers and plenty of sunlight. They take their time to grow, about 75 to 100 days, and they can’t tolerate frost at all. A growing pumpkin needs enough water but also shouldn’t get too wet. Pumpkins are quite picky. Typically, you plant a pumpkin in the spring, once you’re sure there’s no more frost, and when the temperature is around 15 degrees Celsius. In the Netherlands, pumpkins are usually sown around late April to June, depending on the weather.

When can I harvest a pumpkin?

You generally harvest pumpkins in the fall, typically between September and October. How do I know if a pumpkin is ready to be harvested? You can harvest pumpkins when they look good! They should have an even color, be deep orange, or the characteristic color of the type, as there are also white, yellow, green, and even blue pumpkins. Additionally, you’ll often see the stem begin to crack and become corky. The skin should also be thick and firm, not easily pressed. If the pumpkin sounds hollow when you knock on it, it's ready to be harvested.

How do I pick a pumpkin?

Pumpkins are picked using pruning shears or a small knife. If the stem is a bit corky, then the pumpkin is ready to be picked. Leave about a 5 cm stem on the pumpkin so you can store it properly after picking. It’s not a good idea to just pull a pumpkin off the vine.

When can you pick pumpkins in Groningen?

You can pick pumpkins during the pumpkin picking days in Groningen. But there are more fun places where you can do something with pumpkins!

Pumpkin Picking Days Groningen

In Oostwold, at the educational farm De Nieuwlandse Akker Nieuwlandse Akker, you can harvest your own pumpkins during the Pumpkin Picking Days Groningen. The pumpkin picking days in Oostwold Groningen will be held on October 12 and 13, 2024. Entry is free (pumpkin field and local market with 35 stalls). Children can carve and decorate their pumpkins for a small fee. If you want to take a pumpkin home, there is a fee for that as well.

October 12, 2024: 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
October 13, 2024: 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Address Nieuwlandse Akker: Huningaweg 19, Oostwold (Oldambt)

The Pumpkin Barn in Kiel-Windeweer

Definitely worth a visit if you want a wide selection of decorative and edible pumpkins, the Pumpkin Barn in Kiel-Windeweer. Visit on Facebook. You can visit daily between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM at Dorpsstraat 242. Last year, RTV Noord visited the Pumpkin Barn:

Mikkelhorst Care Farm

A smaller-scale location to pick pumpkins is at Mikkelhorst Care Farm: Mikkelhorst. Here, there is a pick-your-own garden where you can pick pumpkins. You can also harvest cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, and fruit. Additionally, there is a fun petting zoo that’s nice for children to visit.

Pumpkin Carving with Children

The Groninger Landscape in Midwolda is organizing a fun autumn activity for children aged 6 to 12 this year. On Wednesday, October 16, starting at 2:30 PM, you can carve and decorate a pumpkin here. The number of pumpkins is limited, so sign up quickly. More information can be found via this link: Pumpkin Carving. You do need to create an account with the Groninger Landscape.

Pumpkin Farms in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has quite a few places where you can pick pumpkins. If you’re going on an outing, we recommend checking out this page—maybe you’re near a pumpkin farm! Pumpkin Farms in the Netherlands. This page lists 18 pumpkin farms for a feel-good autumn outing.

Best Pumpkin Recipes

I love spicy pumpkin soup, so I think I’m going to make some pumpkin soup soon! We’ll end this pumpkin post with some of our favorite pumpkin recipes, and we hope we’ve inspired you to pick some pumpkins during the pumpkin picking days in Groningen! Who knows, maybe you'll use your own homegrown pumpkin to make one of the recipes we recommend: 10x Pumpkin Recipes.