Where To Pick Pumpkins In Bethesda This Fall

Seasonal & Holidays

Where To Pick Pumpkins In Bethesda This Fall With the fall season in full swing, find out where to pick a pumpkin in and around Bethesda and Chevy Chase.

BETHESDA, MD — Heading out to a patch or field to pick the best or biggest pumpkin isn't just about finding the perfect Halloween jack-o-lantern. It's a chance to head out with the family in a cherished fall tradition full of fun activities.

Many pumpkin patches and fields offer complementary activities like hayrides, corn mazes and games for the kids. Picking your own pumpkin also is a good way to support the local farmers who grow them.

Whether you plan to carve a jack-o'-lantern or just add some festive flair to your stoop, there are plenty of places to pick up a pumpkin near Bethesda and Chevy Chase. Here are a few options to visit:

Butler's Orchard , 22222 Davis Mill Road, Germantown

Homestead Farm , 15604 Sugarland Road, Poolesville

Rock Hill Orchard , 28600 Ridge Road, Mount Airy

Summers Farm , 7503 Hollow Road, Middletown

The Maryland Corn Maze , 389 Gambrills Road, Gambrills (Bonus: This year's maze is a likeness of superstar Taylor Swift.)

Brookfield Pumpkins , 8302 Ramsburg Road, Thurmont

Krop's Crops Fall Fun , 11110 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA

Fox Hollow Farm , 21808 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg

Brookfield Pumpkins , 8302 Ramsburg Road, Thurmont

Sharp's at Waterford Farm , 4003 Jennings Chapel Road, Brookeville

Keep in mind that carving and baking pumpkins aren't the same. The former are grown in fields to be large, more vibrant in color and relatively hollow. The watery flesh doesn't have the same flavor as baking pumpkins, which tend to be smaller, have thicker, harder-to-carve walls and sweeter flesh. For those, you'll probably need to head to the grocery store.

If your pumpkin is destined for a starring role on Halloween night, here are some tips for carving a perfect jack-o'-lantern. Warren Nash on YouTube also shows a step-by-step process to make the perfect carve.

Pumpkin carving kits will go a long way in getting what you need. They typically include saws, a scooper, a drill and multiple patterns.

If you're looking for the items individually around the house, here's what you could use:

Pumpkin. Unless you have a pumpkin-growing operation in the backyard, you'll need to pick out one you like from your local pumpkin patch or a store. Make sure it looks sturdy and clean. Remember, this is the pumpkin that will be front and center on the porch for the Halloween season.

Curved boning knife, or serrated knife from the kitchen.

Ice cream scoop or scraper

Pencil or pen

Candle or battery-operated light

1. Cut it: If cutting from the top of the pumpkin, make sure to do it on an inward angle, so the top won't drop inside the pumpkin when you put it back on. Michael Natiello, creative director for The Great Jack-o'-Lantern Blaze, said it's better to cut the pumpkin from the bottom , in a series of pumpkin carving tips from Good Housekeeping. That helps prevent the sides from caving in later.
2. Gut it: Use the ice cream scoop, or your hands, to remove all the seeds and other debris from inside the pumpkin. Do a thorough cleaning and make sure nothing is left sticking to the sides.
3. Trace it: Draw your design on a piece of paper before putting it on the pumpkin itself. That way, it is easier to trace the design onto the pumpkin.
4. Make the cuts: Cut out the design. Natiello said to use a fork or pencil to poke holes around the lines. When cutting, get the big pieces of pumpkin out first and clean up the edges later.
5. Light it: Light the pumpkin with a battery-operated light or candle in a holder, place it in the pumpkin then admire your work.