Pumpkins a plenty ripening for harvesting at autumn open day at school and community farm at Totteridge Academy

Hundreds of pumpkins and squashes have been ripening in the autumn sunshine ready for Pumpkin Time on Saturday 24 October at Grow, the school and community farm alongside Totteridge Academy.

Tickets for the event – which are now on sale – include a serving of pumpkin soup, a farm tour and children’s activities.

Grow fund raiser Lucy Gray – seen above surveying the crop – was full of praise for volunteers at the farm who continued watering the various plots throughout the summer heatwaves and drought.

“Thanks to their efforts – and they came as early as seven o’clock in the morning to avoid the heat – we do have a great crop coming along to harvest later in the autumn.

“Some of the pumpkins and squashes are perhaps slightly smaller than last year, and there seem to be slightly fewer, but there will be plenty for our Pumpkin Time event.”

Lucy and Grow’s marketing lead Tara Rudd welcomed visitors to the latest of Grow’s summer Pick Your Own Flowers events.

They have proved highly successful with families allowed to walk through the farm and choose their flowers.

Two first-time visitors were amazed by the range of flowers ready for picking.

“We read about the flower picking online…and we hope to be back for the pumpkins.”

Grow, which was established in partnership with Totteridge Academy, produce fruit and vegetables for the school as well as for sale to the community from a stall just off Barnet Lane.

Tickets for the Pumpkin Time event on Saturday 24 October: www.wearegrow.org/events