Tricks for Picking the Right Pumpkin

    Since seasonal decorating is temporary, it gives us the chance to move things around, try new things, and get creative. Pumpkins are the main attraction in fall and for Halloween decorating, in general. Whether you paint then, carve them, or leave them as is, these fall gourds can offer plenty of options for decorating your fall home.

Here are a few tricks for picking the best pumpkins, caring for them and tips for creating a ‘Mouse in the House’ pumpkin.

Picking the Best Pumpkin…

1. Your choice! You’d be surprised at how many different types of pumpkins we have at the Pasquesi Pumpkin Patch. Search through their special characteristics and potential applications from classic orange for carving, all-white pumpkins that glow like ghosts after dark, to blue-gray pumpkins with deep ribs and orange flesh and red-orange Cinderella pumpkins that make great ‘stackers’. While most pumpkins are edible, the petite Pie pumpkins are really sweet. They weigh in at 2 – 3 pounds with smooth orange flesh. Perfect for pies and other pumpkin-y baked goods.
2. Look for Green Stems: The stem can give you clues on the pumpkin’s freshness. Look for a firm stem and avoid those that appear brown or mushy. Try to avoid picking up your pumpkin by the stem.
3. Choose a Hollow Pumpkin: Just like when you test a watermelon for ripeness, a hollow sounding pumpkin is the best.
   • To test, hold the pumpkin with one hand.
   • Place pumpkin next to your ear. Knock it on the side with your knuckles.
   • Listen for a deep hollow sound… the louder the sound, the better the pumpkin.
   • Look for a firm Pumpkin: Press the flesh. If it springs right back or doesn’t give at all, this pumpkin is at its peak. Also, check for soft spots, especially at the bottom where it sat while growing. If the flesh feels spongy, avoid that pumpkin… it won’t last long!
   • Avoid blemishes or cuts: Try to choose a pumpkin without open cuts or scrapes as these wounds can cause entire pumpkin to rot much quicker. When you find a pumpkin without blemishes, you still might want to wash the pumpkin with a diluted bleach solution (one part bleach with 9 parts water).
   • Keep it cool: If you keep your pumpkins in a cool, dry place and avoid freezing temperatures, they will could last much longer.

How to Make Carved Pumpkins Last Longer…

1. Avoid touching the pumpkin too much. The oils on your fingers speed up the rotting process. Handle with care and avoid pumpkins with bruises and unwanted cuts. Don’t grip the stem too aggressively. A broken stem = a shorter lifespan for a pumpkin.
2. Pick a good location. The best location is a dry, shaded spot such as a covered porch. Avoid direct sun because too much sun will speed up the decay, as will too much rain. Water that collects around the stem will encourage rot, too.
3. Keep a spray bottle with a bleach mixture handy. Spritz the pumpkin on a daily basis to avoid rot.
4. Before carving your pumpkin, make sure the inside is cleaned out and all guts are removed. BEFORE carving, allow the pumpkin cavity to dry out. This will keep mold from forming.
5. Moisturize! Spray the pumpkin with a peppermint oil mixture (Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap and a few drops of peppermint essential oil will keep the rind properly moist. Peppermint oil has anti-fungal properties, plus it smells good too!
6. Keep pests away! Naturally ants, fruit flies and squirrels are attracted to pumpkins, especially carved ones. For best results, keep pumpkins off the ground, on top of haybales or in containers.
7. Avoid real candles. The flame will cause the interior to dry out and rot more quickly. The flameless candles won’t heat up as they flicker…perfect!

These tips should help you prolong the life of your pumpkins, especially those that you spent so much time carving!