Where to pick the perfect pumpkin near Greater Gardner this fall

It's sad to see the summer weather go, but as the temperature drops and the leaves change colors, the season of pumpkin-spiced drinks and cozy sweaters begins.

The New England fall season is a time to cram in as much outdoor time as possible before the bitter cold forces people to stay inside until the spring. The Greater Gardner area has several orchards for apple picking, but the options for pumpkin picking are limited.

Although there are over 60 farms in Massachusetts that offer "pick your own" pumpkin experiences, only two are within a 10-mile radius of Gardner. There are more pumpkin patches either 25 miles west or east of Gardner.

Here is a list of the closest farms to the Greater Gardner area that offer "pick your own" pumpkin experiences.

Pumpkin patches in the Gardner area

Red Apple Farm , the well-known family farm in Phillipston, is a staple of New England fall. The farm offers apple picking all season long, pumpkin picking at the farm's patch, and the opportunity to dig your own potatoes. The current conditions also allow people to pick three kinds of seasonal flowers: Sunflowers, Zinnias, and Japanese Lanterns. The farm is open seven days a week: Monday to Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

More: USA Today released list of country's best apple orchards, including this MA location

Wildwood Farm , a three-generation family farm in Westminster, is a great place to get all the fall seasonal ornamentals: corn stalks, mums, winter squash, gourds, and hay bales. The farm also has a pumpkin patch where customers can pick their own pumpkins. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Sundays.

If you're willing to drive

George Hill Orchards in Lancaster, a half hour drive with light traffic from Gardner, started the "pick your own" pumpkin season on Sept. 22. Four pumpkin patches are open every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you're willing to drive an hour from Gardner to Pepperell, stop by Kimball Fruit Farm . It's about a 40-minute drive from Ashburnham and a 50-minute drive from Westminster.

The "pick your own" pumpkin season at Kimball Fruit Farm has yet to be announced, but pumpkins and winter squash are expected to be available by the end of September. To keep an eye open for the announcement, visit the farm's website or Facebook page. "Pick your own" hours for apples, flowers, and soon pumpkins are daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tougas Farm in Northborough, about a 50-minute drive from Gardner, has already opened its "pick your own" pumpkin patches for the season. The farm's pumpkin patches are closed Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Where to pick the perfect pumpkin near Greater Gardner this fall