Your Ultimate Annapolis Guide to Pumpkin Patches

It’s the Great Pumpkin season, Charlie Brown! This fantastic fruit (yes, pumpkins are fruits, I checked) has so many uses. It can add fall vibes to your front door, give you ingredients for tasty treats, and provide a crafty activity. But first, you need to carve out the time to pick one up. Luckily, there are family-run farms all over Maryland where you can grab pumpkins in all shapes, sizes, and colors…no matter how you want to use them!

We’ve got a list for you of farms that have true pumpkin patches, where kids can learn about the life cycle of pumpkins. If they’re lucky, they may even have a chance to see baby pumpkins and blossoms. Plus, it’s not quite the same unless you’re tripping on vines to get to this season’s best jack-o’-lanterns! 

That being said, we know that fall favorites such as the Maryland Corn Maze in Gambrills and Montpelier Farms in Upper Marlboro will have truckloads of pumpkins to choose from. 

How to Pick the Perfect Pumpkin

At the patch, it might be a bit overwhelming. How do you know which pumpkin will be the best for carving, painting, or eating?

According to Michigan State University, “Fully mature pumpkins have hard, tough rinds. Pass by the ones with sunken or moldy spots, cuts or punctures. Well-attached stems are also important if you want to store your prize pumpkins for later display or use.”

This guide from Food & Wine explains the differences between pumpkin types. For example, Jack-o’-lantern and field pumpkins (the kind you’ll come across at the patch) will be perfect for carving because they “tend to have a tough outer skin and very stringy, watery, and tough flesh.” Whereas sugar and pie pumpkins are (unsurprisingly) best for “a delicious pie or other desserts.”

And here are some other tips and tricks for your visit:

• Wear outdoor clothes and shoes. These are working farms!
• Consider bringing gardening gloves. I always manage to grab the spikiest stem! I’m planning to wear my gardening gloves to the patch. (Otherwise, they don’t get much use…)
• Don’t forget sunscreen and bug spray. These are some big fields to walk through without any shade!
• Set expectations. Talk to your kiddos about the plan. Do you want to get pumpkins only for carving? Or do you want to indulge in a few of those tiny, decorative gourds? And, of course, most of these places have activities they’ll want to try. Not to mention the shops with lots of enticing treats and toys! 
• See their policies about dogs. Some farms do permit dogs, but even those have rules around family fur-babies. Check their websites and call ahead before you pack up your pooch.

Now you’re ready to hit the field, so here are some area farms where you can harvest your very own gourd. 

Pumpkin Patches Near Annapolis

Councell Farms (Cordova)

As we mentioned in our guide to corn mazes, this Eastern Shore farm is a destination for local families. Once you get out of the maze, check out the rest of the Field of Fun. Go down a slide attached to a combine, feed some animals, and get your wiggles out on the jumping pillow. Then head to the pumpkin patch. They give some advice on their website, including, “Never carry a pumpkin by its stem,” and “Whenever possible, carve your pumpkin on the same day you plan to display it.”

Distance from Annapolis: About 35 miles.
Address: 11773 Old Skipton Road, Cordova, MD 21625
Hours: Every day, 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM.
Cost: $6 per person. Children 2 and under are free. Also, grandparents joining their families are free. No advance sales on tickets, you need to pay at the farm. 

Larriland Farm (Woodbine)

This destination is worth the drive when you can get your pumpkin picking and apple picking done in one day. Their Fall Festival is only on weekends, with mazes, hayrides, live music, and fresh apple fritters. There’s also a “Boo Barn” that’s just a little spooky for your little ones. Or you can go out there for a quieter experience on a weekday if you’re just in it for the pick-your-own haul.

Distance from Annapolis: About 50 miles.
Address: 2415 Woodbine Road, Woodbine, MD 21797
Hours: Summer hours continue through October 31. Tuesday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Saturday to Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Closed Monday. Entry for pick-your-own ends 30 minutes before closing. The Fall Festival occurs only on weekends.
Cost: $14 per person for Fall Festival tickets (Saturday and Sunday only). $3 for a weekday pick-your-own ticket (Tuesday to Friday only). No ticket is required for the farm market.

Schlagel Farms (Waldorf)

The Schlagel Farms Fall Festival is a great excuse to visit this farm in Charles County. Hop on a hayride to their pumpkin patch to grab some pumpkins before checking out the rest of the activities. They have a petting zoo, a straw maze with slides, and a corn box. Their shop has mums, eggs, honey, meats, and a cornucopia of produce. But if you can’t make it to the festival, you can still find them at the Anne Arundel County Farmers Market on Saturdays through December and on Sundays year-round!

Distance from Annapolis: About 41 miles.
Address: 12850 Shlagel Road, Waldorf, MD 20601
Hours: Every Saturday and Sunday through October, 10 AM to 5 PM.
Cost: Will be available when more information is up on their website.

Sharp’s at Waterford Farm (Brookeville)

The Fall Festivities at this farm will not only let you grab a pumpkin right off the vine but also hosts different events every weekend. Do you love horses? Or want to get up close to some emergency vehicles? Maybe you want to bring your pups to the farm. They’re all free, so you can plan to catch all of these events this season. Plus, they have opportunities for private events and visits from school groups (which makes weekday mornings a bit busier). What’s more, they offer educational tours, open house events, and even a historic home where you can stay.

Distance from Annapolis: About 46 miles.
Address: 4003 Jennings Chapel Road, Brookeville, MD 20833
Hours: Starting the last weekend of September through the first weekend of November. Open every day, 10 AM to 5 PM. As they told me, “The pumpkin patch is ready for picking any time during those hours.”
Cost: Free admission and free parking.

Y Worry Farm (Davidsonville)

This family-run farm first planted pumpkins in 1989 and has let visitors come grab their own ever since. Check out their corn maze, corn stalk teepee, and hay pyramid for kids to play in and on. Say hello to their chickens and goats (just make sure the goats don’t get a hold of your flannel). You can buy not only pumpkins, but also other fall décor classics such as Indian corn, corn stalks, straw, and a variety of gourds.

Distance from Annapolis: About 11 miles.
Address: 1501 Rossback Road, Davidsonville, MD 21035
Hours: Will be available when more information is up on their website.
Cost: According to their website, admission to the farm is free. 

More Pumpkin Patches:

• Summers Farm (Middletown)
• Gaver Farm (Mt. Airy)
• Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch (Middletown) 
• Baugher’s Orchard (Westminster) 
• Butler’s Orchard (Germantown)

And more spots to snag a pumpkin (vines not included):

• Greenstreet Gardens (Lothian)
• Maryland Corn Maze (Gambrills)
• Knightongale Farm (Harwood)
• Montpelier Farms (Upper Marlboro)
• Plentiful Patches (Centreville)
• Homestead Gardens (Davidsonville and Severna Park)
• HoneySmith Bees & Gardens (Crownsville)
• The Happy Seed (Davidsonville)
• Diehl’s Produce (Annapolis)
• Arnold Farms (Arnold)
• Super Family Produce (Arnold)
• Riva Gardens and Farm Market (Riva)
• Clark’s Elioak Farm (Ellicott City)

When you and your family head to one of these patches, you might want all the pumpkins you can carry. So go ahead…grab a wagon and stack ‘em high. Then bring that fall spirit back to Annapolis!