Gardeners who have found their pumpkin patches are smaller than usual this year should not be disheartened by this turn of events.
This is according to chief horticultural advisor for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Guy Barter, who attributed diminutive vegetable sizes to climate conditions.
The charity noted recent unusual weather activity has stunted growth for some crops.
A dry start to the summer season meant some plants struggled to lay roots in the ground and left them vulnerable to attack from a powdery mildew disease.
Foliage could have been destroyed early in the year as a result, meaning the sun and warmth experienced more recently was of no benefit.
Delays to growth are responsible for reducing the eventual size of pumpkins as they require extended periods to bloom and reach their full level of maturity.
Mr Barter added this meant the dull and wet spells witnessed in mid to late summer are also less than ideal conditions.
However, the expert stated his own crop was reasonable and provided some tips for good pumpkins.
He advised planting from the middle of April, with two seeds per pot allowing the stronger plant to benefit from greater access to nutrients once the weaker one has been thrown away.
A warm and sunny greenhouse was recommended and the vegetables are best kept in bright conditions where possible.
Moist soil is preferable to lavish watering and it can also help prevent mildew.
Unpredictable conditions have not been completely bad news as some plants have benefitted from this.
"Courgettes on the other hand only need a short season and thrived in the damp, dull summer. Orchards are also having a bumper year, providing plenty of fruit for another Halloween tradition, apple bobbing," Mr Barter commented.
The RHS recently noted the Indian summer has caused many plants to bloom later than expected and predicted these conditions will become more commonplace in the future as the impact of climate change starts to be felt.
