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It’s almost Halloween and that means pumpkin carving!
But what can you do to prevent these beautiful creations from becoming a heap of porridge within a few days?
With the following 9 tips you can keep your decorative masterpieces fresh for a festive Halloween night – from choosing the best to carving and proper care.
9 tips for long-lasting Jack-o’-lanterns
1. A tribe is a lifeline
The ideal pumpkin has a good length of the firm stem that is still attached and this should not be shrunk.
It is still nourished by this part of the vine, making it less susceptible to rotting than its stemless counterparts.
2. Blemishes are red flags
Bruises, cuts and scars are stress indicators that can mean an early decline. For the longest possible life, your selection should have the least impure skin.
3. Go green
An unripe fruit or vegetable lasts longer than a ripe one. So pass on the orange and choose the greenest you can find to get a fresh, funky look.
4. Squeaky clean
When you get home, wash the skin with an antibacterial detergent or hand soap and dry it thoroughly to remove any rotting residue and bacteria.
5. A back door instead of a lid
Cut an opening in the back of your pumpkin instead of cutting off the top to expose the “guts” inside.
Remove the piece and score a thumb-sized hole from the edge for easy gripping and easy access to the cavity. If you leave the stalk in place, the nutrient supply for most of the vegetables will continue.
6. Simplify designs
The techniques of thinning and removing the skin as well as many complicated cuts increase the susceptibility to putrefaction. The first ones to leave are often the least likely to hold them together.
7. Refresh yourself with baking soda
To absorb moisture and odors, place a cup of baking soda in the clean cavity. For safety reasons, remove it while the pumpkin is lit with a candle. You can leave it on when using battery powered lighting.
8. Lift onto a plate
Instead of placing your Halloween masterpiece directly on the floor, place it on an old plate to prevent moisture absorption and insect burrowing.
9. Let Jack sleep inside
Bring your carved creation in for the night to avoid being exposed to excess moisture from morning dew and frost. Keep it in a cool, dry place until you want to put it outside again.
If you follow these tips, you will get the best for your pumpkin goat. Aside from an increase in humidity or a drop in freezing temperatures, you may not notice a breakdown for a week or more.
Professional pumpkin carving set – high-performance tool set made of stainless steel
You can find information on high-quality crafting tools in the Professional Pumpkin Carving Kit from Bootiful Carving Tools. available at Amazon. It contains four precise stainless steel parts that are guaranteed not to break.
Use them with caution. These tools are sharp, they are not toys and child supervision is a must!
Safety comes first: what is not to be done
And while we’re dealing with security, I want to warn you of some other Ideas floating around out there to extend the life of carved pumpkins:
The dangerous suggestions include the application of petroleum jelly, mineral oil or hairspray. Please note that such materials are flammable and / or flammable and that a candle or other hot light source nearby can result in fire or injury.
Another dangerous idea is to use desiccant packs. I ask you not to use them either.
They look too much like candy packs, and while some are non-toxic, others contain toxic cobalt chloride, and all pose a choking hazard. Children who crave candy may want to give it a taste if left unattended.
Take care and enjoy a devilishly funny Halloween!
Resources that you can use
You can find more seasonal ideas in our articles at Arrange leaves from your garden, and growing autumn blooming New England aster, chrysanthemum, and Winter squash.
Visit our sister site Foodalto learn more about the many uses of pumpkin, how to make pumpkin puree, how to roast pumpkin seeds and much more.
Hybrid pumpkin seeds “New Moon”
And for something completely different next year, how about growing your own white pumpkins? New Moon Hybrid seeds are available at True Leaf Market in packs of 100.
Would you like to share photos of your pumpkin lanterns? Post them on our Facebook page! And don’t forget to leave a comment below to let us know which pumpkin preservation tips worked for you.
