Pumpkins BIG, pumpkins small—picking the perfect of them all.
Now that it's officially fall, it's time to take the family to go get pumpkins! I can remember going to pick pumpkins as a kid. My uncle actually had a giant pumpkin patch that we would all run through and collect as many as we could carry.
This year, Jacobs and I went (on my birthday actually) and grabbed a couple along with some mums for our front porch at one of our favorite produce stands—Reed's Produce Market in Downtown Franklin.
They have mums in every shade and color—we went a little crazy and got a pink one this year (I know, right?). They have a great variety of not only mums but different kinds of pumpkins, corn husks, gourds and even cabbage plants (I used a couple on my fall table—check it out HERE!). I love the Cinderella Pumpkins and they have really beautiful ones in aqua and white.
How to pick the perfect pumpkin:
- Choose a pumpkin that feels firm and heavy for its size.
- Choose a pumpkin that has consistent coloring throughout.
- Turn the pumpkin over and place pressure on the bottom with your thumbs. If it flexes or gives your pumpkin is not fresh.
- Look for soft spots, mold, wrinkles or open cuts that would indicate damage or early spoilage.
- Choose a pumpkin with a solidly attached stem.
- A green stem indicates a freshly harvested pumpkin.
- Place your pumpkin on a flat surface to check to see if it will sit flat (especially if you are going to carve it).
Best places to get pumpkins in Nashville:
Starting this weekend this family farm will be open on Saturdays from 9-5 and Sundays 1-5 through Oct. 28. It is so much more than just a pumpkin patch. They have a four acre cornfield maze, hayrides a nature trail, barn, tire swings and animals all for guests to explore. It is a real family experience and a blast for kids!
Cheekwood is a fun destination year-round (especially with their LIGHT exhibit going on now—take my tour HERE) but it is especially exciting during the fall. They have over 5,000 mums planted in their gardens where you'll also find dozens of scarecrows hidden along the paths. They also have a pumpkin patch that you can take a pumpkin home to remember your adventure.
See GIANT pumpkins and while you're there, grab some amazing produce for dinner.
Great local business that carries everything: pumpkins, corn husks, gourds, mums and more. They are in fact OPEN during all the construction that is happening around them. I'm going this weekend to get some aqua pumpkins—see you there!
Some other favorites? Maxwell Brothers, The Produce Place, The Turnip Truck and The Franklin Farmers Market.What are your family's fall traditions and where do you find the best pumpkins?
Don't forget to take your camera when you go! I took these of my best friends' little one two years ago at Reed's. Cutest lamb I ever saw!
