Overview
- Farmers report widespread losses and much smaller fruit after Summer 2026, with the Met Office confirming the warmest UK summer on record contributed to pollination failure and water stress.
- Ruffins Farm in Bury St Edmunds, which usually grows about 10,000 pumpkins, produced roughly 50 this year, forcing the owners to cancel public pick‑your‑own events and rethink their crop plans.
- Growers across the country say many pumpkins are about 50–60% smaller than normal and large carving pumpkins are in particularly short supply, leaving little surplus to meet Halloween demand.
- Farms faced hard choices over limited irrigation, often prioritising water for livestock, and some businesses expect significant financial strain from lost sales and cancelled autumn attractions.
- Institutions and growers are trialling fixes such as moisture‑retaining 'compost cake' beds and some are urging a shift toward smaller, edible squash varieties if dry conditions persist, especially with El Niño concerns for 2027.