Unlike other pick-your-own fruits and veggies, the goal of pumpkin picking is not to fill a bushel or a pint, but to find that one perfectly shaped gourd fit to be carved into the most terrifying or most jovial jack-o'-lantern. Round or narrow, big or small, squat or oblong - you decide! Find the one that's just right and bring it home for a family-fun afternoon of carving and decorating that will really put you and your little ones in the Halloween mood.
    Pick up a few extras while you're at it and whip up some homemade treats like a classic pumpkin pie or some less traditional (but still tasty) chocolate pumpkin muffins. Or, if the kitchen isn't your domain, bring home some fresh-baked goodies from one of the locations listed below. And don't forget to save the seeds! Roasted pumpkin seeds, or pepitas, are a delicious and nutritious snack filled with protein and essential minerals.
    All pick-your-own dates depend on weather, growing conditions, and demand. Call to check availability before visiting any of these locations.

   Also see our full 2009 guide to pick-your-own pumpkin locations in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

CONNECTICUT

Belltown Hill Orchards
483 Matson Hill Road, South Glastonbury
860-633-2789; www.belltownhillorchards.com
U-pick pumpkins and apples through October, weekends 8am-5:30pm. Farm market, bakery, Grandma's Pantry, goat milk soaps, mohair yarns, gifts.

Bishop's Orchards
1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford
203-458-PICK or 203-453-2338; www.bishopsorchards.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins and apples through late October. Call for hours. Farm market with pre-picked produce, bakery, and winery.

Blue Jay Orchards
125 Plumtrees Road, Bethel
203-748-0119; www.bluejayorchardsct.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins and apples through October. Open daily 10am-5:30pm.

Brown's Harvest
60 Rainbow Road, Windsor
860-683-0266; www.brownsharvest.com
Pumpkin picking, mums, cornstalks, fall decorations, apple cider, homemade cider donuts, fresh baked apple and pumpkin pies. Hayrides, face painting, and corn maze on weekends.

Buell's Orchard
108 Crystal Pond Road, Eastford
860-974-1150; information@buellsorchard.com; www.buellsorchard.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins and apples through Halloween. Also available: gourds, cornstalks, Indian corn, and hardy mums. Annual Columbus Day Festival includes apple picking, pumpkin picking, hayrides, cider, donuts, live music, and chicken BBQ. Open Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm.

Bunnell Farm
498 Maple Street, Litchfield
860-567-9576; bunnellfarm@yahoo.com; www.bunnellfarm.org
Pick-your-own pumpkins in October. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10:30am-5:30pm (also open Columbus Day). Free hayrides on weekends. Groups on weekdays by appointment. Store with fruits and vegetables, fall decorations, apple cider, gourds, mums, squash, cornstalks, and more. School tours and birthday parties.

Castle Hill Farm
40 Sugar Lane, Newtown
203-426-5487; www.castlehillfarm.biz
Pick-your-own pumpkins through October 31. A 100-acre farm with a four-acre pumpkin patch and six-acre corn maze. Hayrides, pony rides, corn maze, and farm animals. Open weekends and Columbus Day 11am-5pm.

Ellsworth Hill Orchard and Berry Farm
461 Cornwall Bridge Road (Route 4), Sharon
860-364-0025; www.ellsworthfarm.com
Pick-your-own traditional, red, white, or blue pumpkins through October; U-pick raspberries and pears through mid October; U-pick apples through November. Corn maze. Store with pre-picked produce, bakery, cider and donuts, pies, cookies, jams, and honey. Open daily 8am-5:30pm.

Harris Hill Farm
114 Ridge Road, New Milford
860-354-3791; www.harrishillfarm.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins on weekends in October, 10am-5pm. Family owned farm with pumpkin patch, animals, corn maze and hayrides.

Hickory Hill Orchards
351 South Meriden Road (Route 70), Cheshire
203-272-3824; www.hickoryhillorchards.com
Pumpkin and apple picking through October. Country Store and outdoor Pie Garden. Open daily 10am-5:30pm.

Johnny Appleseed's Farm
13 Schoolhouse Road, Ellington
860-875-1000; www.freewebs.com/johnnyappleseedct
Pick-your-own pumpkins and apples through October. Free wagon rides to picking fields on weekends. Open daily, weather permitting, 9am-5pm.

Jones Family Farms
Pumpkinseed Hill Farm, 130 Beardsley Road, Shelton
203-929-8425; www.jonesfamilyfarms.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins through October 31. Squash, gourds, and handmade crafts available. Hayrides to pumpkin fields. Corn maze on weekends. Open daily 10am-5:30pm.

Karabin Farms
894 Andrews Street, Southington
860-620-0194; www.karabinfarms.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins on weekends in October. Wagon rides to pumpkin fields. Field trips on weekdays by appointment. Country store open daily 9am-5pm.

Lyman Orchards
Junction of Routes 147 & 157, Middlefield
860-349-1793; www.lymanorchards.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins and apples through October. Golf course. Home of Connecticut's largest indoor, year round farmer's market, open 9am-7pm in October.

March Farm
160 Munger Lane, Bethlehem
203-266-7721; www.marchfarms.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins and apples through end of October. Farm market and bakery, five-acre corn maze, hayloft playscape, animal yard, scenic walking trail. Open daily 9am-6pm, twilight picking on Fridays and Saturdays till 8pm.

McLaughlin Vineyards
14 Albert's Hill Road, Sandy Hook
203-426-1533; info@mclaughlinvineyards.org; www.mclaughlinvineyards.com
Wine tasting, pumpkin picking, hayrides, hiking trails, and bald eagle viewing. Open daily 11am-5pm in October.

Pell Farms
96 Kibbe Grove Road, Somers
860-749-3582; www.pell-farms.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins through end of October, daily 10am-5pm. Weekdays ($3 admission): hay maze, corn maze, petting zoo. Weekends ($4 admission): hay maze, corn maze, petting zoo, hayrides, pony rides, face painting, games. Snacks and fall decorative items available.

Plasko's Farm
670 Daniels Farm Road, Trumbull
203-268-2716; plaskosfarm@aol.com; www.plaskosfarm.com
Giant corn maze and pick-your-own pumpkins. Country store, farmer's market, greenhouse, and bakery. Open daily 9am-6pm.

Pumpkin Paul's Farm
Route 195 on the Tolland/Coventry line
860-429-8449; pumpkinpaul@sbcglobal.net
Pick-your-own pumpkins through October. Pre-picked available. Open daily 9am-6pm.

Rose's Berry Farm
295 Matson Hill Road, South Glastonbury
860-633-7467; www.rosesberryfarm.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins in October. Tractor-pulled hayrides to pumpkin patch. Corn maze, face painting, live scarecrow, children's play area, slide, peddle tractor track, Halloween croquet, live music every Sunday. $6, children 3 and under free. Open weekends and Columbus Day 10am-5pm.

Ruwet Farm
1600 Torringford Street, Torrington
860-489-9580
Pick-your-own pumpkins through November. Farm stand with homegrown produce. Open daily 10am-6pm.

Sweet Wind Farm
339 South Road, East Hartland
860-653-2038; www.sweetwindfarm.net
Pick-your-own pumpkins and other vegetables through October, Saturdays 10am-6pm, other days by appointment only. Farm stand with fresh produce and maple products. Pumpkin festival at the end of October with hayrides, games, contests, storytime, food, live music, and more; call for more information.

Warrup's Farm
11 John Read Road, Redding
203-938-9403; www.warrupsfarm.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins on weekends in October. Tractor-drawn hayrides, friendly barnyard animals. Farm stand with pre-picked vegetables, cider, apples, gourds, Indian corn, maple syrup, maple candy, gift items. Open 10am-6pm.

Wright's Orchard and Dried Flower Farm
271 South River Road, Tolland
860-872-1665; www.wrightsorchard.com
Pick-your-own pumpkins and apples through October. Wright's store with homegrown produce, apple cider and donuts, pies, and more. Dried flower and basket barn. Call for hours.