Small pumpkins? Blame the weather...

If you're growing pumpkins and are disappointed that they're not growing as big as you'd expected, it could be down to this year's 'strange' weather, according to the RHS.

The society's principal horticultural adviser, Leigh Hunt, said "It’s been a strange year. To start with, a dry start to the summer meant plants struggled to get roots into the ground and establish properly. It’s not been a really long, good growing season. By August, we were getting cooler temperatures into the night, and it slows down the plant and the way the fruit develops. People were finding the flowers rotting off; other people were finding the fruits were coming but it was very slow, and where it got really soggy, they were getting some of the fruits rotting off." In addition to this, mildew thrived and the low temperatures and lack of sunshine in August stunted the development of the plants.

But all is not lost. Even if you've only got small pumpkins, there are still plenty of things to do with them. Read on for some inspiration!

1. Table decorations - Use small pumpkins as table decorations by placing them on some colourful autumn leaves that you've collected. Or, if you're really creative, make place settings with them for your dinner party guests!


2. Halloween carvings - Small pumpkins can look very effective and are easier for young children to handle. There are lots of free templates online that you download, from simple to more elaborate designs, to really impress your neighbours.


3. Soup bowls - Pumpkin soup is delicious and looks really effective presented in hollowed-out pumpkins. Simply scoop out the flesh, making sure that that the 'bowl' is sturdy enough to hold the soup. Take a look at our recipes page, where you'll find some great recipes for warming pumpkin and butternut squash soups.

Create the perfect autumnal table decoration

Small pumpkins make cute halloween carvings