Choose a pumpkin patch in Iowa where your family can ride out to the field and cut a pumpkin off the vine, find far more varieties than a store pile, and stay for more than pumpkins, says Erin Conner, Director of Family Fun at Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch in Cumming, just southwest of Des Moines. Families from Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale and Norwalk can see every point below in one visit to its fall activities.
In Episode 16 of Howell’s Farm Experience, host Mike Downer spoke with Erin about what makes picking a pumpkin straight from the field different from grabbing one off a pre-picked display at a big-box store. Erin shared tips on selecting fresh pumpkins, choosing varieties for different purposes and making pumpkin picking a memorable family outing.
What Should You Look For in a Family Pumpkin Patch?
Erin’s answers point to five things to check before you go:
- Field picking: you ride a wagon out to the patch and cut your own pumpkin off the vine.
- Real variety: carving, stacking, pie, mini and warty pumpkins in several colors, not one pile of orange.
- Signs in the field that name each variety, so you know what you are picking.
- A pumpkin wash station, so kids can give their pumpkins a bath before the ride home.
- More to do than pick: a corn maze, playgrounds, jumping pillows and rides for a longer visit.
Why Is Picking Pumpkins From the Field Worth It?
Picking a pumpkin straight from the vine gives families an experience that pre-picked store displays cannot replicate.
“You’re going to get the real experience of how pumpkins are actually grown,” Erin said.
At Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch, families take a wagon ride into the fields, explore growing pumpkins and choose their favorites.
Erin explained that children can see pumpkins at different growth stages, including blossoms, tiny developing pumpkins and mature ones ready for picking.
The experience also creates opportunities for family memories. Children might discover an unusually shaped pumpkin, help choose one for each family member or laugh as their parents carry an oversized pumpkin.
Afterward, families can visit Howell’s pumpkin wash station at the farm market, where children enjoy cleaning their freshly picked pumpkins.
These simple activities turn pumpkin shopping into a family tradition.
Which Pumpkin Varieties Can Families Find at Howell’s?
Howell’s grows carving, stacking, mini, pie and warty pumpkins in a range of colors, so families can pick for carving, decorating or baking.
Popular choices include:
- Jack-o’-lantern pumpkins: Larger pumpkins with spacious interiors that are ideal for carving.
- Stacking pumpkins: Flatter varieties available in white, blue, orange and reddish-orange shades.
- Mini pumpkins: Small pumpkins perfect for younger children and tabletop decorations.
- Pie pumpkins: Smaller, denser pumpkins suited for baking and cooking.
- Warty pumpkins: Decorative varieties with textured surfaces and tougher skins.
Families can also choose pumpkins in different sizes to represent family members or decorate their front porches. Signs in the field identify each variety, Erin said, so you can look one up on the spot.
According to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, pumpkins come in numerous shapes, sizes and colors, making them useful for everything from seasonal displays to cooking.
For more on matching a pumpkin to the job, see how to choose the right pumpkin for carving, cooking and fall decorating.
How Do You Pick a Fresh, Healthy Pumpkin?
Pick a pumpkin that is firm, with a healthy green stem and no soft spots on the bottom, Erin says.
Look for these characteristics:
- Firm skin: Avoid pumpkins with soft or damaged areas.
- Healthy stems: Look for a firm, healthy green stem.
- Solid bottoms: Examine the underside for soft spots or signs of deterioration.
- Good maturity: Choose a pumpkin that has developed sufficiently for your intended use.
Erin also recommends inspecting pumpkins from several angles because damage may not be immediately visible. A stem with little prickles on it means the pumpkin came straight from the field and is fresh.
The Iowa State University guide to selecting pumpkins similarly recommends choosing firm pumpkins without bruises, holes or soft spots.
Keep in mind that pumpkins should be carried from underneath rather than by their stems.
Which Pumpkin Should You Pick for Carving, Decorating or Baking?
The best pumpkin depends on whether your family plans to carve, decorate or cook with it.
For carving, Erin recommends traditional jack-o’-lantern pumpkins because their larger interior cavities make removing seeds and pulp easier.
She advises against choosing dense pie pumpkins or thick-skinned warty varieties for children’s carving projects.
For decorating, flatter stacking pumpkins create attractive porch arrangements. Combine different colors and sizes for additional visual interest.
For baking, pie pumpkins offer denser flesh and more pumpkin flavor.
Families can also extend their enjoyment by keeping decorative pumpkins uncarved through Thanksgiving.
Proper storage matters, too. Iowa State University’s pumpkin storage recommendations emphasize cool, dry conditions and adequate air circulation.
What Else Should a Good Pumpkin Patch Offer?
A good pumpkin patch should offer activities beyond choosing pumpkins, because picking is usually one stop on a longer visit, Erin says.
Erin highlighted several attractions families can enjoy:
- Wagon rides through the farm
- Corn maze adventures
- Playgrounds for children
- Jumping pillows
- Bathtub train rides
- Pumpkin cannon activities
Rather than making a quick stop to purchase pumpkins, visitors can explore the farm, enjoy seasonal attractions and create lasting fall memories. See the full list of pumpkin patch activities at Howell’s.
So when you ask how to choose a good pumpkin patch to take your family to in Iowa, look for a field you can pick from, more varieties than a store display and a full day of activities around it.
Watch the Full Episode of Howell’s Farm Experience
Want more tips for finding the perfect pumpkin? Watch Episode 16 of Howell’s Farm Experience on YouTube to hear Erin Conner explain what makes field picking special and how to choose different pumpkin varieties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a good pumpkin patch to take my family to in Iowa?
Choose a patch where you can ride out and cut a pumpkin off the vine, with many varieties, signs that name them and activities beyond picking. Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch in Cumming, just southwest of Des Moines, offers all of them.
What makes a good family pumpkin patch?
Look for diverse pumpkin varieties, hands-on picking experiences, family-friendly attractions and activities suitable for different ages.
Is picking pumpkins from the field better?
Field picking allows children to see how pumpkins grow while creating a more interactive family experience.
What pumpkins are best for carving?
Traditional jack-o’-lantern pumpkins are ideal because their larger interior cavities make carving easier.
How can I tell whether a pumpkin is fresh?
Choose pumpkins with firm skin, healthy stems and no soft spots, particularly underneath.
Which pumpkins are best for fall decorations?
Stacking pumpkins, miniature pumpkins and colorful decorative varieties work well for seasonal displays.
What other activities does Howell’s offer?
Families can enjoy wagon rides, a corn maze, playgrounds, jumping pillows, the bathtub train and pumpkin cannon activities.
Where is Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch?
Howell’s is in Cumming, Iowa, just southwest of Des Moines and next to Norwalk.
Plan your visit and buy admission online before you head out to the patch.
Mike Downer: Hello, everybody. Welcome to Howell’s Farm Experience. I’m your host, Mike Downer. I am here with Erin Conner, and she’s the Director of Family Fun out at Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch. How are we doing today, Erin?
Erin Conner: I’m doing great. It’s my favorite time of year. It’s fall.
Mike Downer: I’m telling you. Today, we’re going to be talking about your favorite time of year and picking your own pumpkins inside the Howell’s Pumpkin Patch experience.
What we’re going to go over today, Erin, is what makes picking your own pumpkin straight from the field at Howell’s different from grabbing one off a pre-picked display, like at a big-box store. We’re going to go over all the ins and outs of that.
Erin, if you could, walk us through the pumpkin fields. What varieties can families expect to find this year?
Erin Conner: Okay, so I was just out in the pumpkin patch yesterday, and let me tell you, it is awesome. It is full of so many different varieties for families to choose from.
We have the classic carving pumpkins. We have the decorative types because you know how you always want to stack your pumpkins. You want those ones that are kind of flat so you can stack them. We have those in all different colors: blues, whites, Cinderella oranges, and reddish-orange ones.
We give families a lot of different options. We’ve got the tiny little baby pumpkins for the little kids. We’ve got the pie pumpkins, or probably a five-pound pumpkin, if you want to make a pie or just have different sizes of every type of pumpkin. You can make the cutest porch. You can have a big daddy pumpkin, a mama pumpkin, and a baby pumpkin. We have all sorts to choose from—way more variety than you would ever find in town.
Mike Downer: Oh, that’s cool. I remember when the kids were little, and we would always have four different sizes of pumpkins representing the family. That was always very, very fun.
I didn’t realize there were different types of pumpkins. I just thought a pumpkin was a pumpkin. I knew there were different sizes and colors, but I didn’t realize there were so many varieties.
Erin Conner: Even in jack-o’-lanterns, you have the bright orange, and then you have another kind that is more of a yellow-light orange. Then you’ve got some that have warts on them. The warty ones are harder to carve because they have tougher skin. You need an extra-sharp knife for those.
We have ones that are different colors and different stripes. When we shop for pumpkins in the seed catalog, the varieties are endless.
Mike Downer: Yeah, that’s very cool. The warty ones make great witch pumpkins. I’m telling you, they make great-looking witches.
So why does picking a pumpkin straight from the field matter to families compared to just grabbing one off a pile?
Erin Conner: What makes it different when it’s going out to the pumpkin patch, riding the wagon out to the pumpkin patch, and going out there is that you’re actually having an experience. You’re going to remember, “Oh, I remember that big pumpkin there, but we went over here and got this pumpkin. Remember that one had a worm on it?”
You’re going to get the real experience of how pumpkins are actually grown. You can actually cut it off the vine. You will see the blossoms of the vines and the different stages of each pumpkin. Some aren’t quite ready yet. Some will just have a little bitty pumpkin coming on. It’s the experience of coming out here to pick a pumpkin.
Mike Downer: Well, yeah. And then it gives you a good chance to make fun of Mom and Dad too, when Mom trips over a vine or Dad can’t carry that great big one that the kids wanted or whatever. It’s a great time for the kids to find some things to make fun of Mom and Dad about, and there are a lot of good stories for Mom and Dad to remind the kids of when they get older too.
Erin Conner: Yep. We also have a pumpkin wash station up at the farm market. If the kids pick pumpkins out of the field and they get a little bit of dirt on them, they love giving their pumpkins a bath. You’re not going to find that in a big-box store.
Mike Downer: No. Somebody has either already bathed them, or you have to do it at home. One or the other.
That’s the same with those pumpkin carts on the side of the road too. You just go up to the cart and go, “Ooh, that one.” Those have already been washed and made pretty and shiny.
Erin Conner: Ours are already pretty and shiny, but you always get that little bit of dirt on them.
Mike Downer: Yeah. It’s kind of fun to do a little bit of your own work too, and that adds to the experience because what kid doesn’t like to get dirty?
Erin Conner: Yep.
Mike Downer: I remember my boys. They would do anything to get dirty.
Erin Conner: Well, once you start carving the pumpkins, it’s even more dirty because you’ve got all the pumpkin guts, seeds, and sliminess inside the pumpkin to deal with. It’s pumpkin-picking fun all around.
Mike Downer: Oh yeah. Like I said, I’ve done it with my kids, and it’s something that no parent should ever miss. Do it at least once, and once you do it once, you’ll do it more than once.
I can tell you that from personal experience. Trust me, I’m your typical average dad who does this, but once you get there, it’s awesome. The thought of it is a lot more overwhelming than actually doing it.
I’m giving all the dads a little push out there: it’s worth it. Don’t take a deep sigh and roll your eyes. Just suck it up and go do it, and you’ll be thankful you did.
What should someone look for when picking a good pumpkin? Do you have any tips from the field? I know you’ve probably got a million of them.
Erin Conner: The main thing is you need to make sure the pumpkin is firm and has a nice, healthy green stem. You need to check the bottom because if pumpkins are in the field too long, or if they are not mature enough before the vine dies, the pumpkin might have a little soft spot on the back. You don’t want that because it won’t last long on your porch.
You want something that has fully matured, so check the pumpkin from all different sides. Sometimes the vine dies and the stem breaks off the vine. Then you know that pumpkin is done and ready, and it’s not going to grow anymore.
Versus one that’s still on a vine, green, and a little hard to get off the vine—you know that one could potentially still get bigger, but you might want that one now.
With the ones you get straight off the vine, sometimes you can tell how mature they are based on the firmness of the stem. Some stems also have little pokies on them. Then you know they’re super fresh and straight from the field. That’s a true experience if your pumpkin stem has a little bit of pokies on it.
Mike Downer: Yeah, I’ve experienced that before. They don’t hurt that bad. You just wipe it off, and then you know that pumpkin is going to last a long time because it’s very fresh.
Erin Conner: Fresh, yes. And that’s what you’re looking for.
Mike Downer: That’s what a lot of people want. They want to keep them around for a while. If you don’t carve it, they’re great Thanksgiving decorations too.
My wife always got our money’s worth out of the pumpkins. The uncarved ones transitioned from Halloween decorations to Thanksgiving decorations, and then, if they were left out after Thanksgiving, they became squirrel food.
Erin Conner: Absolutely.
Mike Downer: I love squirrels, and I feed squirrels. I’m terrible about that. I know they’re gnarly little characters, but I just love them.
What do families typically pick pumpkins for: carving, decorating, or both? And does that change what they should look for in a pumpkin?
Erin Conner: Families choose pumpkins for all sorts of purposes: decorating, carving, or both. What you’re doing with your pumpkin determines what pumpkin you should pick.
If you’re decorating, I would pick more of a stacking type of pumpkin in different colors. That way, you get that cutesy porch and different sizes of pumpkins. On the top step, you can put the bigger pumpkin, and as you go down the steps, you can use smaller and smaller pumpkins. For decorating, a lot of women like the white pumpkins or the blue pumpkins.
If you’re carving a pumpkin and you have kids carving, I would not recommend a pie pumpkin because it’s smaller and the skin is thicker. That’s why people use it for pies. It’s more dense, has less guts in it, and has more actual pumpkin flavor.
I would suggest that if you’re going to carve, you need a jack-o’-lantern. Those are bigger and have more open space, so you get that big cavity. Yes, you have to get all the guts out. There are more guts in the bigger pumpkins, more slime, and more seeds, but that just means more seeds for you to eat.
I don’t recommend the warty pumpkins for carving because those have harder skins, and you need a harder knife for them. But it’s up to you what kind of pumpkin you want. We have all sorts of kinds for any of your pumpkin needs.
Mike Downer: So the warty pumpkin you’re talking about—is that grown specially, or does that just happen?
Erin Conner: That is a certain kind of seed that we pick out, yes.
Mike Downer: Okay. I’m sure that when people are out there picking, there is always a Howell’s expert out there to guide them a little bit.
Erin Conner: Yes. We have signs that help you identify the pumpkins. You can say, “Oh, what kind of pumpkin is this? Oh, it looks like that one.” Then you can Google more information on that variety.
Mike Downer: Perfect. That’s good information to know because when you’re picking them out, if you have a specific purpose, this is all really good information.
Again, I like those warty pumpkins for witches and Frankenstein-type things, and I’ve struggled through that. Had you told me that years ago, I would have steered away from it.
Erin Conner: We have jack-o’-lanterns. We even have jack-o’-lanterns that are taller and more head-shaped, more Frankenstein-like, flatter pumpkins too. We don’t just have the round, basketball-shaped kind. We also have taller ones if you want to do a Frankenstein.
Mike Downer: Very cool. And you were talking about the thinner skins. You know those stencils you can buy? I used to try to do those, and you don’t carve it all the way out. You kind of thin the skin out so the light shines through. That’s what you were talking about with those thinner-skinned ones, where the light kind of shines through after you get that off.
Erin Conner: Yeah.
Mike Downer: Very good. I’m learning all kinds of things today. Again, it’s stuff I wish I would have known when I was still carving pumpkins. Now they are just decorations in my house since the kids are all gone and there are no grandkids yet.
Let’s wind this up. How does the pumpkin-picking experience tie into everything else that is happening at Howell’s that day?
Erin Conner: Pumpkin picking is usually just one stop on a longer visit. We have so many more activities to do on top of just picking out the perfect pumpkin. We’ve got the wagon ride, the corn maze, playgrounds, jumping pillows, the bathtub train, and you could even shoot a pumpkin out of a pumpkin cannon if you wanted to. We have all sorts of attractions on top of pumpkin picking.
Mike Downer: Very cool. I can tell by talking to you that pumpkins have a special place in your heart.
Erin Conner: I was kind of raised on it.
Mike Downer: I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with all of us who are extreme novices compared to you when it comes to picking out pumpkins. This is going to help families quite a bit when they’re out there and kind of clear things up. I appreciate it, and I’m sure everybody else out there does too.
Next time we get together, we’ll just keep talking about everything going on out at Howell’s and all the fun stuff that everybody can do this fall.
Erin Conner: I can’t wait.
Mike Downer: All right. Thanks again, Erin. We’ll talk to you very soon, and thanks for joining us on the Howell’s Farm Experience.
Erin Conner: Thank you.
