Squash down: smaller pumpkins expected this Halloween after drought in England

Pumpkins are relatively drought tolerant but this year’s weather stretched their tolerance to the limit. Photograph: Natalia Ganelin/Getty Images

In the lead-up to Halloween, front porches across the country feature fat, proudly carved pumpkins, lit from within by tea lights.

But this year there is likely to be a shortage due to drought, experts have warned, with the squashes much smaller than usual.