Farmer Doug’s Pumkin Patch Opens This Weekend

DULUTH, Minn.– Pumpkins and Christmas trees. That’s what’s on the mind of Farmer Doug and his team right now.

The Pumpkin Patch in Duluth will be opening this weekend for families to visit and choose that special gourd. Farmer Doug told Fox 21 that the start of the growing season was slow because of the wet spring we had but the dry weather that followed was ripe for pumpkin’ growing. And if you like the big boys Farmer Doug has plenty this year.

“We have big pumpkins. And that’s been something that I kind of pride in is anyone can grow pumpkins but it’s a little trick to grow the big ones in our short season up here. So, we have a lot of them in the 40–50-pound range. Reason we do this, a lot of it is for the kids,” said Farmer Doug Hoffbauer. “Seeing kids enjoy it and have fun. And being able to go out and pick a pumpkin that’s unique, that’s what they want, that fits with their idea of how they are going to carve it or decorate it. And to be a part of a good memory.”

While it may feel early, even commercial growers are picking theirs. It’s especially peak harvest up here with our shorter growing season because of that first frost.

“Pumpkins cannot take frost. People think frost on a pumpkin but it’s kind of a misnomer. They don’t hold up. If they’ve been frosted, they turn to mush in a couple of weeks. So, to have a good sturdy pumpkin now is the time to pick it up,” said Hoffbauer.

Meanwhile believe it or not, you can check out Farmer Doug’s tree farm before the snow and extreme cold moves in. You can pre-tag your favorite tree and come back when the season opens to chop it down.