Reservoir water helped Suffolk’s Frog’s Farm irrigate seven acres of squash during summer heatwaves; farmer Freddy Vaudrey said the farm produced 50,000 pumpkins and plans a pick-your-own patch. Nearby, Ruffins Farm had about 50 pumpkins, its owner said.
Frog’s Farm’s reservoir collects and stores surplus water in winter for pumping to crops during drier summer months. Vaudrey said he could not quantify the amount used but described irrigation as key to the harvest.
At Ruffins Farm near Bury St Edmunds, Andrew King said extreme weather decimated the crops, forcing cancellation of its maize maze and pick-your-own pumpkin events. He said a reservoir was too expensive for the small farm and that limited water had to go to its sheep rather than pumpkin irrigation. Ruffins plans to plant pumpkins again next year and hopes for better weather.
