Nothing scares trick-or-treaters away like a sunken pumpkin.
Protect your pumpkin from rot with these tips and products.
When you do handle your pumpkin, be gentle.
Credit: Adam Albright
Handling a pumpkin aggressively can lead to bruises or unwanted cuts from fingernail snags.
Ideally, youllset your pumpkin in its desired homefor the season, and it wont be touched again.
BHG / Zoe Hansen
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Credit:BHG / Zoe Hansen
The hot sun speeds up a pumpkins decaying process, as does rain.
Moisture from rain can lead to mold and mush, which no one wants on their beautiful pumpkins.
Plus, those pumpkins will look gorgeous on yourfall front porch.
If they float, stir them around to ensure that all sides of the pumpkins are covered.
Let the pumpkins dry completely before setting them in their designated home.
Also, be sure that the base of the stem, where liquid tends to pool, is dry.
Let It Dry
Whencleaning out your pumpkin, double-check that the inside is entirely free of guts.
Then, before taking carving tools to your pumpkin, let the cavity dry out.
Moisture inside the pumpkin, paired with more air exposure from cuts, will make it rot faster.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Another method for preserving pumpkins is to moisturize them properly.
Whilecarving pumpkinsis a tradition we all know and love, it speeds up the decaying process.
Oxidation happens as soon as the pumpkin is cut open, and it dries out faster.
If you decide to carve your pumpkins, extend their life by rubbing petroleum jelly around the carved edges.
If you dont have petroleum jelly, useolive or coconut oil.
Peppermint has anti-fungal properties that will keep your pumpkins soft and smooth when they start getting dry.
Also, the peppermint will leave your pumpkin display with a pleasant smell.
Keep Pests Away
Dont let your Halloween get any scarier with pests around your pumpkins.
The most effective way to deter ground-lurkingpests like squirrelsand ants is to keep your pumpkins off the ground.
Set them on a windowsill or stack them on haybalesits your chance to get creative.
Pumpkins, especially carved ones, tend to attractfruit flies.
The first step to fruit fly prevention is carving your pumpkin correctly.
ensure that the inside of the pumpkin is entirely gut-free, which lessens thechance of mold.
To trap existing flies, place an open dish of wine next to your pumpkinsyes, you heard right.
Since fruit flies are attracted to fermented fruit, the wine is a distraction.
Tuck afruit fly trapbehind your pumpkins if these pesky insects persist.
A flame inside a pumpkin will dry out the interior, causing it to rot faster.
Instead, use a flickering battery-operated light.
A good pumpkin should also feel firm to the touch and have dull (not glossy) skin.
Allow the pumpkin to air dry before adding lights or placing it outside.
