Is there anything more autumnal than pumpkin picking? This year, you can make the most of the season with some great pick your own pumpkin patches.

Whether you want to carve a jack-o-lantern with the kids, bake a pumpkin pie for the family or take some cute Instagrammable photos, these pumpkin patches across the county are well worth a visit ahead of Halloween.

Beluncle Farm, Rochester

Stock up your wheelbarrow with plenty of different pumpkins this autumn at this Rochester farm. The patch returns once again, with many different varieties, sizes and colours having been planted in the field for visitors to pick and take home. From large orange pumpkins perfect for carving to small squash which are ideal for cooking and eating, you can find whatever you’re looking for here. There will even be staff on hand to help guide you to the best variety for your meal, whether it’s a cosy winter casserole or a tasty pumpkin pie.

When: Select dates from Saturday, October 8 to Friday, October 28 at Stoke Road, Hoo, Rochester ME3 9LU.

Tickets: £7.50 per standard vehicle, £11 per large vehicle. Book online here.

Cheeseman’s Green Lane, Ashford

Visit this working farm near Ashford and get stuck into some proper pumpkin picking. Visitors are warned that there will be mud - and sometimes lots of it, depending on the weather! - so bring your wellies and gardening gloves and prepare to get messy as you choose your perfect pumpkin for the Halloween season. Also, keep an eye out in the fields for the golden pumpkin; there will be one hidden in the patch each day, and whoever finds it gets to go home with a wheelbarrow full of free pumpkins.

When: Weekends from Saturday, October 15 to Sunday, October 30 at Cheeseman’s Green Lane, Sevenington, near Ashford TN25 7HX.

Tickets: £5 per car plus booking fees. Pumpkins are priced by size from £1 to £10 each. Book online here.

Delf Farm Shop, Sandwich

This farm shop is known for its homegrown produce, artisan products and seasonal offerings, including Christmas trees - but December isn’t the only time worth visiting this shop in Sandwich to get your hands on some seasonal decor. Each October, the farm invites visitors to explore their pumpkin field. You can go ahead and pick your own and, if you don’t quite get your fill in the field, you can also purchase ready-picked pumpkins over the counter inside the shop.

When: Details of this year’s pumpkin field have yet to be announced, but the shop website has listed the event. Visit the website here for updates.

Four Winds Farm, Tunbridge Wells

Enjoy an autumnal day out with the whole family when you visit this farm in October. The rural pumpkin patch in Fordcombe, near Tunbridge Wells, is open throughout the month for you to choose from a range of pumpkins in all sorts of sizes and colours. However, that’s not the only thing to do here this Halloween, as the farm will also host a scarecrow trail with fun things for kids to see and do, as well as face painting and plenty of refreshments available. Bring your wellies and a strong bag to carry your pumpkins, as you might be here a while.

When: Saturday, October 22 to Friday, October 28 at Poundsbridge Hill, Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0RL.

Tickets: £1 per vehicle plus booking fees. Pumpkins are priced on the day depending on size, ranging from £2 to £10. Book online here.

Hoath Fruit Farm, Canterbury

If you’re after a cheap way to keep the kids entertained this Halloween, look no further than this Canterbury farm. Hoath Fruit Farm is one of the only places you can pick your own pumpkins for free in the county this October, so you can still join in with the fun even if you’re watching the pennies. The farm hasn’t confirmed the price of its pumpkins just yet, but last year prices started from £1 per pumpkin. There are hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of pumpkins available at this patch, and in previous years they have sold out, so make sure you get down there early.

When: Select dates from Saturday, October 8 to Sunday, October 30 at Bekesbourne Lane, Canterbury CT3 4AB.

Tickets: Admission is free and no booking is required. Find more details here.

Lower Ladysden Farm, Goudhurst

Get into the Halloween spirit with these frightfully fun things to do. Tucked away in the Weald is Lower Ladysden Farm, one of Kent’s busiest pumpkin patches and a hub for Halloween activities. Not only can you pick your own pumpkins on the farm, but the kids can also take part in games such as pumpkin bowling and making straw mountains, get their faces painted and snap a selfie at the photo spots. There is also hot food from the BBQ and a licensed bar for drinks. For something extra special, head down to one of the PYO Pumpkin Nights where you can explore the farm under the stars.

When: Select dates from Saturday, October 1 to Sunday, October 30 at Winchet Hill, Goudhurst TN17 1JX. PYO Pumpkin Nights take place on Friday, October 14 and Friday, October 21 only.

Tickets: £2.50 per person for daytime entry, £5 per person for the PYO Pumpkin Nights. Under 3s go free. Pumpkin prices start from 50p. Book online here.

Milebush Farm, Maidstone

This farm is known for being one of Kent’s great pick your own spots throughout the year. Their summer fruit picking season, where you can get raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, has just finished, but the team have already confirmed that the fields will be back open for pumpkin picking once again this year. There are often lots of unusual pumpkins in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours and textures available here, so it’s worth popping along to find something different for your jack-o-lantern.

When: Full details of this year’s pumpkin field have yet to be announced, but the farm Facebook page gives Saturday, October 1 as an opening date. Check back here for more updates.

Pumpkin Moon

One of the county’s most popular pumpkin picking events is back for another year. Pumpkin Moon will be welcoming visitors to its pumpkin patches in Lower Rainham, Maidstone and Bapchild near Sittingbourne once again. The farms, which earlier this year attracted visitors with the opening of their giant maize mazes, will transform into a Halloween themed extravaganza with more than 100 varieties of pumpkin, squash and gourd for you to pick. There will also be photo opportunities, family friendly activities and, as is expected at this time of year, fancy dress is encouraged.

When: Select dates from Saturday, October 8 to Sunday, October 30 at Lower Rainham Road ME7 2YA (Lower Rainham), Old Chatham Road ME14 3BE (Maidstone) and Fox Hill ME9 9AB (Bapchild).

Tickets: From £2 per person, with each pumpkin priced separately on the day. Under 2s go free. Book online here.

Saffery Farm, near Faversham

This farm just outside of Faversham, in the quiet village of Selling, is a muddy working farm that gives children a chance to run free and get stuck into nature - as long as you don’t mind giving them a long bath when you get home. You can pick a variety of pumpkins here, and in previous years much of the money raised from the event has been donated to charity, so your pumpkins are all for a good cause. Don’t wait too long to visit, however, as the event has sold out in the past.

When: Saturday, October 22 to Sunday, October 30 at Owens Court Road, Selling, near Faversham ME13 9QN.

Tickets: Admission is free and no booking is required. Pumpkins are priced by size, starting from £1. Find out more here.

Stanhill Farm, Dartford

This much-loved pumpkin patch has been thriving each autumn for the past nine years. Visitors of all ages return year after year to pick their pumpkins each Halloween, and are encouraged to share their creative jack-o-lantern designs with the team online. The patch is large and filled with beautiful colours, so you might want to capture an autumnal photo or two before you begin filling your wheelbarrow with pumpkins to take home.

When: Saturday, October 15 to Friday, October 28 at Birchwood Road, Dartford DA2 7HD.

Tickets: £3 per vehicle of up to seven people. Pumpkins are priced individually depending on size, starting at £1, or you can fill a wheelbarrow for £35. Book online here.