Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Choose the perfect gourd to carve into a jack-o’-lantern at one of our favorite pumpkin patches.

BY BARBARA RUSSO

If there’s one thing we love about the fall, it’s pumpkin everything, including pumpkin picking. Your family can spend a day at Decker Farm’s pumpkin patch or take a day trip out to a New Jersey farm to pick the perfect pumpkin and enjoy various fall activities. Here’s a list of our favorite pumpkin patches and farms for pumpkin picking in and near Staten Island. Just be sure to call or visit the farms’ websites before heading out to confirm pumpkin availability and for info on their safety policies. STATEN ISLAND

Decker Farm

435 Richmond Hill Road historicrichmondtown.org 718-351-1611 Hours: Oct. 2-31, Saturday-Sunday (plus Monday, Oct. 11), 11am-5pm Admission: $4-$11. Tickets available online. Check the website for details. This pumpkin patch features pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Complete with photo-ops and fall decorations, you’re sure to experience a picture-perfect moment as you decide which pumpkin to take home. And don’t miss the Pumpkin Chucking, Snack Wagon, Living History Demonstrations, and more! Why we love it: Watch the kids try to solve a maze made completely of hay bales.

Greenside Up Garden Center

2777 Arthur Kill Road greensideupgardencenter.com 718-967-5039 Hours: Oct. 1-31: Monday-Friday, 12-6pm;

Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm Admission: Free admission. In addition to selecting the perfect pumpkin for their jack-o’-lanterns, kids can enjoy inflatables, pumpkin painting, a corn maze, games, and prizes. Plus, there’s a snack shack and you can book Halloween or birthday parties to celebrate the season. Why we love it: As if everything mentioned above isn’t enough fun, there’s a haunted house for adults on weekends, so call your babysitter and enjoy a spooky night out!

NEW JERSEY

Alstede Farms

1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester Township alstedefarms.com 908-879-7189 Approximate drive from Staten Island: 1 hour Hours: daily, 9am-6pm (last admission to pick-your-own is 5pm). Pumpkins anticipated to be available mid- to late September. Check the website for updates. Admission: Exact prices for pumpkin picking not available yet. Check the website to make reservations in advance online (it’s a little cheaper than purchasing at the door and guarantees your entry) Alstede Farms offers orange and white pumpkins, munchkins, gourds, and assorted winter squash—all available in u-pick! Pony and tractor-pulled wagon rides are offered daily (for an extra fee). Plus, you can visit with and feed some of the farm’s animals. Why we love it: Corn, sunflower, and evergreen mazes are on-site and included with pick-your-own admission.

Battleview Orchards

91 Wemrock Road, Freehold battlevieworchards.com 732-462-0756 Approximate drive from Staten Island: 1 hour Hours: Wednesday-Monday, 9am-4pm. Pumpkins anticipated to be available Sept. 25. Check the website for updates. Admission: No entrance fee. Cash only for purchasing pick-your-own produce. Senior citizens receive a 10-percent discount on Mondays and Thursdays. Battleview Orchards offers a variety of pick-your-own fall favorites, including pumpkins and apples. Why we love it: Hayrides are available in the fall, weekends only, starting Sept. 25.

Cheesequake Farm Market

2095 US Highway 9, Old Bridge cheesequakefarms.com 732-721-5728 Approximate drive from Staten Island: 45 minutes Hours: April-Dec. 24, 9am-6pm. November close time: 5pm. Pumpkins anticipated to be available mid- to late September. Check the website for updates. Admission: $10 hayride to enter the pumpkin patch. Pumpkins are $0.69 per pound. Quality pumpkins of every shape, size, and color are available during pumpkin-picking season in the fields or the farm market. Gourds and fall harvest vegetables are also available. Why we love it: You can wander through a corn maze as part of the hayride price.

Giamarese Farm

155 Fresh Ponds Road, East Brunswick giamaresefarm.com 732-821-9494 Approximate drive from Staten Island: 1 hour Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. Pumpkins anticipated to be available mid-September. Check the website or call for updates. Admission: A $10 hayride will bring you into the patch, but exact prices for pumpkins are not available yet. The hayride includes a tour of the corn maze where you’ll see lots of fall decorations including mums, straw bales, and—of course!—pumpkins to pick. Pony rides available for an extra fee on weekends in October. Why we love it: Other crops available through December include mustard and turnip, plus apples are available through early October.

Happy Day Farm

97 Daum Road, Manalapan happydayfarmnj.com 732-977-3607 Approximate drive from Staten Island: 1 hour Hours: Sept. 11-Oct. 31, daily, 10am-5pm. Last entry at 4pm. Admission: No admission fee to pick a pumpkin Monday-Thursday; $20 FridaySunday. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Weekend admission includes a variety of family activities, including an animal feeding zoo, corn maze, tractor rides, and a variety of games. Why we love it: Weekends throughout the season offer an itinerary of all-day fun featuring games, activities, and food concessions.

Norz Hill Farm & Market

116 S. Branch Road, Hillsborough norzhillfarm.com 908-371-2697 Approximate drive from Staten Island: 1 hour Hours: Sept. 12-Nov. 7, MondayFriday, 12-6pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm. Weekday hayrides start Oct. 1. Check the website for holiday hours. Admission: $15 Saturday-Sunday; $12 Monday-Friday; free for children shorter than 36 inches. Seniors and current military receive $1 discount. Pumpkins and large and fancy gourds are $0.79 per pound. The farm grows more than 60 different varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and winter squash, so you’re bound to find that perfect pumpkin. The colors range, from orange to white to blue... even pink! Why we love it: There’s a kid’s corner featuring a Bale Maze, Corn Boxes to play in, and more.

Ort Farms

25 Bartley Road, Long Valley ortfarms.com 908-876-3351 Approximate drive from Staten Island: 1 hour Hours: Pumpkins available through Oct. 31. Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm; SaturdaySunday, 9:30am-5pm. Admission: $8; free for children ages 2 and younger. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Pumpkins are $0.70 per pound. Choose from a variety of pumpkins. A hayride brings you to the patch, or you can walk. Food vendors are available on weekends. Why we love it: Admission includes access to a hayride and corn maze.

Stony Hill Farm Market

8 Route 24, Chester stonyhillfarms.com Approximate drive from Staten Island: 1 hour Hours: Daily, 10am-5pm. Pumpkins anticipated to be available late September. Admission: $7.99. Pumpkin prices start at $2.00 for 0-4 pounds. So many pumpkins are grown here, including ones that weigh more than 20 pounds! Other activities include corn mazes, a playground, and trike rides. There’s also a

Maze Fun Park featuring a giant, 1-acre corn maze. Check the website for ticket packages available. Why we love it: Admission includes a hayride to the fields on weekends

Terhune Orchards

330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton terhuneorchards.com 609-924-2310 Approximate drive from Staten Island: 1 hour Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9am-6pm; Friday, 9am-7pm; Saturday-Sunday, 9am-6p.m. Pumpkins anticipated to be available late September. Admission: No admission fee to the patch during the week; $11 Saturday-Sunday. Pumpkin picking available during the week, and also during the farm’s fall family weekends, which run Sept. 18-Oct. 31, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. Meet barnyard animals, go through corn mazes, and enjoy pony rides and pumpkin painting. Why we love it: Although there is an admission fee on weekends, there is so much to do on-site after you pick your favorite pumpkins.

Von Thun’s Country Farm Market

505 Ridge Road, South Brunswick 438 Route 57 West, Washington vonthunfarms.com 732-329-8656 Approximate drive from Staten Island: 45 minutes Hours: Daily, 10am-5pm. Pumpkins now available. Admission: $3 to enter the patch MondayFriday; $15.99 Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 18-Oct. 31; free for children ages 2 and younger. Seniors and military receive a $1 discount. Pumpkins: $0.69 per pound. Weekend pumpkin picking includes a variety of other activities, including hayrides, meet-and-greets with farm animals, corn maze, and more. Why we love it: During the week, there’s an easy “walk-to” patch that is decorated with jack-o’-lanterns and fun, whimsical wooden cartoon characters, while the “main patch” is available on weekends and offers lots of family activities with the price of admission.