Mudpie Fridays >> Horsham >> Camelia Botnar Pumpkin Patch in Horsham Sussex

Camelia Botnar Pumpkin Patch in Horsham Sussex

The boys love going pumpkin picking. Not something I discourage if I am honest since it is such an enjoyable activity. Although this year I was leaving our pumpkin picking until the end of half term. But then I drove past the sign to Camelia Botnar Pumpkin Patch in Horsham. We live less than seven miles away. So it came as a bit of a shock when we normally visit various Sussex Pumpkin Patches which are a lot further away. Having missed this one which was right on the doorstep in our local area. Deciding we wanted to check it out Harry and I took a trip over to last year to the Camelia Botnar Garden Centre to pick our own spooky Jack-O’-Lantern. Discovering one of the best pumpkin patches in Sussex.

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Where is Camelia Botnar Pumpkin Patch

Camelia Botnar Garden Centre is located on the outskirts of Horsham in West Sussex. If you are travelling by car, you can take the A24. The garden centre is located on the left-hand side of the road. There is plenty of free parking with a large car park available on-site. Which unlike so many pumpkin patches has a hard standing. You can use the address Littleworth Lane, Horsham RH 13 8NA.

Top tips for picking pumpkins at Camelia Botnar Garden Centre

It is Autumn so it goes without saying that many a pumpkin patch we have visited over the years is pretty muddy. So suitable footwear is a must as it can get quite boggy. As essentially it is a large field with lots of homegrown pumpkin plants.
Remember to bring some sturdy bags or a box to put your pumpkins in while they are in the back of the car. As this will make taking them into the house easier.
By arriving early you will also get the best opportunity to pose for photos. There are several different places to pose with nice handmade boards.
When looking for a pumpkin make sure you pick one which is not damaged in any way. Pumpkins should be hard to the touch. And they should sound hollow when you tap them. Many are grown on their side and can be a bit flat or misshapen for this reason. Check to make sure the side that has been lying on the ground is not soft and mushy. This will ensure it is a fresh pumpkin.
The Camelia Botnar Pumpkin Patch in particular is a bit of a mish-mash. There are so many different varieties planted on top of each other. Which I really like as we like to get some carving pumpkins and some small unusual ones for the mantle.
But it does mean that you need to be prepared to spend some time looking for your perfect pumpkin, especially if you go later in the season. The field is quite large and many of the pumpkin plants hadn’t died back completely when we visited. But it was fun turning the leaves over and seeing what we could find.

Different varieties…

Personally, for me, this is what pumpkin picking is all about. One of the things I really like about the Camelia Botnor Pumpkin Patch is that it is another one which grows lots of different varieties of pumpkins in their pumpkin fields. Coming in all shapes and sizes and some beautiful colours. Although the classic Jacko Lanterns are there for carving they sell a number of cooking varieties. Something we are trying to encourage the boys to pay more attention to and reduce the waste we create. I particularly like the onion squashes, cinderella pumpkin and crown prince. They had yellow Jacko Lantern which I have not seen before and had to come home with us this year.

There are also a number of smaller varieties, mainly unedible gourds, that always catch the imagination while walking around the PYO field. I like different shapes and all the bobbles. Harry in particular has a thing about huge pumpkins. So we set about trying to find the largest orange pumpkin we could find. The patch itself is well spread out and I assume south-facing as it was really warm when we visited with plenty of sun and fresh air, which made for a lovely day out.

Food and facilities at Camelia Botnar

Most pumpkin-picking fields in Sussex will come with wheelbarrows. Camelia Botnar Garden Centre pumpkin patch is no different. There were plenty lined up near the entrance and just after you have paid. It is quite a small patch and we went early in the season so did not have trouble getting a wheelbarrow. There were also staff on hand rounding them up once they had been used.

At the entrance to the pumpkin area you go past a small shop selling a variety of Halloween decorations, pumpkin carving kits and a whole load of activities. Right next to this is the scare rooms. These are in a long gazebo and cleverly done. Aimed at the younger children it was perfect for Harry who is a little scared of the dark. On the way to the pumpkin field, we passed a tractor which Harry enjoyed posing on, he particularly enjoys a tractor ride. There are also a few homemade photo opportunities.

Because it is located next to a garden centre it is not just pumpkin picking. You also benefit from all the facilities at this lovely non-busy garden centre. Including a large pirate play area with a large pirate ship climbing frame and coffee shop. The garden centre has a gift shop selling Christmas decorations and plenty of different plants.

In the cafe they have plenty of food options including hot food, cold snacks and hot drinks. I can recommend the homemade sausage rolls.

The pumpkin patch does not allow dogs. If you have an assistance dog or guide dog then it would be worth checking with them via their social media channels. They also have toilet facilities on site in the garden centre. Visit the Camelia Botnar Garden-CentreFacebook page for updates on the pumpkins.

Opening times and prices

Camelia Botnar Pumpkin Patch in Horsham has just released its opening times for the month of October in 2024. These are the October weekend of the 12th & 13th and 19th & 20th. Also open every day during half term which runs from the 25th to 31st of October this year. Opening hours are 10 am to 4 pm and 11 pm to 3 pm on Sundays. The ticket price is £1.50 per person which I had not spotted on any of their promotions and was expecting it to be free entry. It is best to keep an eye on their Facebook page for up-to-date information

Generally, pumpkins are sold by size with prices starting from as low as £1 for the tiny ones. The larger the pumpkin the more expensive it is all the way up to extra large for £15 which measures 14 inches or more. There is a good selection of things and normally some sort of way of easily measuring device the pumpkins close to the entrance/exit. They accept both cash and card payments.

We really enjoyed our first visit and had a lovely afternoon pumpkin picking, a great family experience.