From Strawberries to Pumpkins: A Season at Libbys Patch Farm

Its hard to believe how quickly another season at Libbys Patch Farm has flown by.

Every year starts with a plan. Then the weather, the crops, the wildlife, the weeds and everything else that comes with farming have their own ideas!

But looking back, its been another amazing year on the farm.

It all started with strawberries

Our season began with one of our favourite crops strawberries.

After months of preparation, planting, feeding and watering, it was fantastic to finally see the plants bursting into life and producing those first delicious berries.

Theres something very special about watching families arrive at the farm with empty punnets and leave with them full of strawberries theyve picked themselves.

For us, thats what the farm is all about giving people the chance to get outside, enjoy the countryside and experience where their food comes from.

And, of course, we couldnt resist turning some of those strawberries into our own strawberry preserve and desserts!

Then came the drought

And then the weather decided to test us.

The summer brought some seriously challenging conditions, with long periods of heat and very little rain.

For farmers, rain isnt just something we talk about when planning a barbecue it can make or break a crop.

We spent countless hours keeping plants watered and trying to give everything the best possible chance. The dry conditions affected growth across the farm, and some areas simply couldnt produce the lush growth we would normally expect.

But farming is about adapting.

You work with what youve got, learn from the season and start thinking about how you can do things even better next year.

Our first sunflower trail

One of the highlights of the summer was our sunflower trail.

We had planted the sunflowers into our rye and vetch cover crop using our no-till system, and watching them develop throughout the summer was fantastic.

There were challenges along the way including the lack of rain and some extreme heat but eventually those little seedlings turned into a sea of yellow.

Seeing people walking through the flowers, taking photographs and enjoying the farm made all the hard work worthwhile.

And we absolutely loved seeing the photographs you shared with us.

Dahlias and wildflowers

Then came another experiment for us dahlias and cut flowers.

We planted hundreds of dahlias, alongside our wildflower areas, and they have been a real highlight of the year.

The variety of colours, shapes and sizes has been incredible.

It has also got us thinking

Could flowers become a much bigger part of Libbys Patch?

The answer is probably yes!

Were already planning for 2027 and looking at how we can bring you even more beautiful flowers, more varieties and more opportunities to enjoy and take home a little piece of the farm.

And now pumpkin season!

While some parts of the farm are winding down, another part is just getting started.

The pumpkin patch is coming!

Pumpkin season is one of our favourite times of the year at Libbys Patch. There is something magical about the farm in autumn the colours, the crisp mornings, the pumpkins covering the fields and, hopefully, a little bit of autumn sunshine.

This year weve grown 76 different varieties of pumpkins, squashes and gourds, so there is going to be an incredible amount to discover.

Weve been working hard behind the scenes getting everything ready.

The fields are being prepared, the pumpkins are being checked, and were getting the farm ready for thousands of visitors coming to pick their perfect pumpkin.

And, of course, pumpkin picking at Libbys Patch isnt just about pumpkins.

Well have our fresh stone-baked pizzas, fresh coffee, popcorn, campfire smores and our world-famous luxury hot chocolates ready for you to enjoy.

Dogs are welcome too, as long as theyre kept on a lead.

Our first pumpkin picking session is 3rd October, and we honestly cannot wait.

After everything the farm has thrown at us this year from strawberries and sunflowers to droughts, dahlias and everything in between were incredibly excited to finish the season with what we hope will be our biggest and best pumpkin season yet.

So get your wellies ready, bring the family and come and find your perfect pumpkin.

Autumn is coming to Libbys Patch and were ready!

Book your pumpkin picking experience