4 Ways To Keep Your Pumpkin Fresh From The Patch
Posted on: 26 August 2019
You've found your perfect pumpkin, but Halloween is still awhile away. Knowing the best practices surrounding pumpkin care and carving will make sure your jack-o-lantern is still thriving when Halloween comes around.
Start Off On The Right Foot
When you select a pumpkin, you want to make sure the flesh is firm and there are no imperfections. Any soft spots, dents, or scrapes invite your pumpkin to begin rotting. You also want to look for a fresh, bright green stem. A dry, browning stem indicates that the pumpkin was picked some time ago and is beginning to dry,
One benefit of going to a pumpkin patch is that the pumpkins are often still attached to the vine. This means the clock doesn't start ticking until you select your pumpkin and cut the vine.
When To Carve
The major rule of thumb to follow when deciding when to carve your pumpkin is the later you carve, the better. Trying to push those boundaries largely depends on the weather. The warmer and wetter the weather before displaying your pumpkin, the faster it's going to rot.
Your best bet is to carve your pumpkin no earlier than three days before you plan to display it.
Use An LED Light
There are all kinds of different lights you could use to illuminate your pumpkin. Tealights really give your pumpkin the spooky vibe, but the heat from the candle could cook your pumpkin. Instead, use LED tealights or a strand of LED lights. Both choices will illuminate your pumpkin without cooking it.
If you're concerned about LED's being too bright, you can select a warm, yellow shade. If you want to further soften the glow, loosely crumple some wax paper to place over the LED tealight. This will soften and diffuse the light.
Moisturize and Protect
After you've carved your pumpkin, the clock starts ticking. To protect your pumpkin and keep it looking fresh you'll want to keep moisture inside of your pumpkin. One of the easiest ways to do this is to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the carved surfaces of your pumpkin.
When you don't have your pumpkin on display, you should bring it inside and place it in your fridge or another cool, dry place.
For more tips to protect your pumpkin, you could head down to a seasonal pumpkin patch in your area. They will be able to give you more tips to prolong the life of your pumpkin and help you pick the best one.
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