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Skip the Pumpkin Patch—This Is the Best Place to Buy Pumpkins This Fall

Fall is here, and farmers all over the country are throwing open their barn doors, welcoming the public and inviting them to drop a small fortune on pumpkins. It’s a crafty strategy. After the pumpkin patch, you might as well pick a few apples, and why not have a wagon ride while you’re at it? Before you know it, you’ve spent major bills, and the pumpkins are going to be compost in a month.

While those adorable pictures of your kids in gingham and denim might make it all worth it, sometimes you just need a few pumpkins with no strings attached. We’ve got you covered. Coming up, we have the best place to buy affordable pumpkins this fall, including heirloom pumpkins and jumbo carving pumpkins, with no extra pressure to take a hay ride.

So where is this magical place? Hint: You’re probably already headed there this weekend. Read on for all the details.

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What’s the best place to buy pumpkins this fall?

It’s Costco! Yep, pumpkins are back this fall, and compared to the pumpkin patch, they are dirt cheap (just like those Costco pumpkin pies). And we’re not just talking about little baby pumpkins, though they have those too. These are big ones, perfect for carving, as well as heirloom pumpkins, those gorgeous, old-fashioned-looking pumpkins that have been cultivated from the same seed line for decades.

Here’s how the pumpkin prices at Costco break down, though they may vary slightly by location. These are all priced per piece, not by weight, so feel free to grab the biggest one you want.

  • Jumbo pumpkins: $7.99
  • Heirloom pumpkins: $6.99
  • 5-pack of mini pumpkins: $5.99

People are all over social media bragging about their great Costco pumpkins. Here are a few happy customers:

“Our pumpkin is perfect 🎃 I got it [at] Costco for 7 bucks 😝,” someone said on Instagram. “Now let’s see how long it takes for the squirrels to start carving it 🐿️”

“I’d love to support pumpkin patches, but last time we went out one pumpkin that felt like a decent size was $35!! And the smaller one $20,” according to a pumpkin buyer on Reddit.

“I bought a huge pumpkin 🎃 from Costco today … it was only $8,” said a Costco shopper on Facebook.

How do Costco’s pumpkin prices compare to pumpkin-patch prices?

They’re a lot less. Pumpkin patches generally price their pumpkins by the pound, and some charge an entry fee, which could be $20 or more per person just to get in the gates.

As for the pumpkins, I found one patch in upstate New York that charges 69 cents per pound. Another, in the New York City area, prices them at 79 cents per pound! Conversely, a pumpkin patch in Fort Worth, Texas, charges a $15 entry fee but offers flat pumpkin prices of $3 to $15. Buy two or three, and you’re already over $50.

Costco doesn’t advertise how much their pumpkins weigh, so we can’t make an exact pumpkin-to-pumpkin comparison, but for a fairly typical 25-pound pumpkin, at 79 cents a pound you’re looking at $19.75 for one jack-o’-lantern. Compare that to $7 or $8 bucks at Costco, depending on where you live, and the difference is considerable.

Are there any downsides to buying Costco pumpkins?

Not really, unless you have a bad back. These jumbo pumpkins are massive, and the heirlooms aren’t tiny either. If it’s pumpkin-buying time in your household, it’s probably a good idea to bring an extra set of muscles—your partner, a friend or your most strapping kid—instead of going it alone.

Other than that, it’s important to choose your pumpkins wisely. Make sure they don’t have any soft spots that might make them rot prematurely, and never pick up a pumpkin by the stem. If it rips off or weakens, you’ve now got an entry point for moisture and decay. Grab them underneath, and don’t forget to bend at the knees.

How long will they be available at Costco?

Costco’s pumpkins are a seasonal item, so they won’t be on sale forever. But you can expect to find them until Halloween or shortly after. Costco’s pumpkins are sourced from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and the pumpkin-growing season lasts deep into fall. But if you’ve ever made a desperate run to Costco for something only to find it was sold out (temporarily or permanently), your best bet is to stock up well before you buy your Halloween candy.

Sources:

Here's Why Costco’s Hot Dogs Cost $1.50

This Request Drives Costco Workers Crazy

What to Know About Costco’s Pumpkin Pie

The post Skip the Pumpkin Patch—This Is the Best Place to Buy Pumpkins This Fall appeared first on Reader's Digest.



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