Pumpkin Patch Guide To Carlsbad, Nearby: 2020

CARLSBAD, CA — With just 23 days to go until Halloween, time is ticking to get those pumpkins picked and carved.

Though we are living through unprecedented times with many activities closed or altered in some fashion, there are still some options when it comes to finding a pumpkin patch near Carlsbad.

Once there, be sure to look for a pumpkin with a firm stem.

"That's a great indicator of how healthy it is," horticulturist Steve Reiners told NPR. If the stem is along the rubbery side, "chances are rot organisms will start to soften the pumpkin quickly."

And when you carve that perfect pumpkin, you can plan on it lasting up to 10 days before it starts to show signs of aging. However, if you want to make it last longer, you can mix three teaspoons of bleach with three gallons of water and spray the solution throughout, according to Clorox.

The perfect temperature to store your pumpkin? That'll be about 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, Reiners said.

Here are the pumpkin patches near Carlsbad:

Bates Nut Farm

• Address: 15954 Woods Valley Road, Valley Center
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 19-Oct. 31
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
• Admission: admission is free; $5 parking per car on weekends in October (cash only)
• Activities: petting corral, pony rides, straw maze, tractor hayrides
• Website: batesnutfarm.biz

Carlsbad Strawberry Company's Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 1050 Cannon Road, Carlsbad
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 18-Nov. 8
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
• Admission: admission is $5; children 5 and younger are free
• Activities: corn maze (regular and haunted), apple canons, tractor ride
• Website: carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com/pumpkin

Julian Farm and Orchard's Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 4381 Highway 78, Santa Ysabel
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 19-Oct. 25
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday (farm open for pumpkin picking only); 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
• Admission: admission is $1 per person on weekdays; each person (3 and older) must purchase a minimum of 10 tickets ($1 per ticket) on weekends
• Activities: animal visits, axe throwing, cider pressing, hayrides (activities on weekends only)
• Website: julianminingcompany.com

Mountain Valley Ranch's Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 842 Highway 78, Ramona
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 26-Oct. 31
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
• Admission: admission is free
• Activities: corn maze, corn cannon, petting zoo, pony rides
• Website: mountainvalleyranch.com

Mr. Jack O' Lanterns Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 6710 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla
• Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 3-31.
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
• Admission: admission is free
• Activities: bounce houses, haunted maze, pumpkin decorating station
• Website: mrjackolanternspumpkins.com

Oma's Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 14950 El Monte Road, Lakeside
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 31
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
• Admission: $14.50 per child on weekdays and $16.50 per child on Saturdays; children under 2 are free; $8.50 per adult (14 and older) on weekdays and $10.50 per adult on Saturdays. All tickets, including tickets for the wagon ride, must be purchased online prior to arrival. No tickets will be sold on-site.
• Activities: petting corral, play area and playground, Cottonseed Mountain, sand pile with toy trucks and tractors, pedal cart/tricycle race track, giant slides, wagon ride
• Website: omasfamilyfarm.com

PB Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 870 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach, San Diego
• Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 1-31
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
• Admission: admission is free
• Activities: pumpkin carving and painting area
• Website: pbpumpkinpatch.com

Pumpkin Station: Bonita

• Address: 5354 Sweetwater Road, Bonita
• Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 1-31
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 1-16; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 17-31
• Admission: admission and parking are free
• Activities: corn maze, petting zoo, train ride, tractor hay-wagon, cut-your-own sunflowers
• Website: pumpkinstation.com

Pumpkin Station: Mission Valley

• Address: 1640 1/2 Camino Del Rio, San Diego
• Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 1-31
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday
• Admission: admission and parking are free
• Activities: petting zoo, various rides, including Ferris wheel and train ride
• Website: pumpkinstation.com

Pumpkin Station: Rancho Bernardo

• Address: 13421 Highland Valley Road, Escondido
• Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 1-31
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 1-16; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 17-31
• Admission: admission and parking are free
• Activities: corn maze, petting zoo, tractor hay-wagon, cut-your-own sunflowers
• Website: pumpkinstation.com

Summers Past Farms' Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 15602 Olde Highway 80, Flinn Springs
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 25-Oct. 31
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
• Admission: admission is free
• Website: summerspastfarms.com

Be sure to also check out our comprehensive San Diego County Halloween 2020 guide. We've tracked down the latest on nearby events, corn mazes and trick-or-treating for this most spook-tacular time of the year!

If we missed your favorite pumpkin patch or Halloween event, be sure to share it with readers in the comments section.

Also see:

• 10 California Pumpkin Patches You Can Still Visit In 2020