Halloween is just around the corner, and with it starts the thrill of spooky decorations, glowing pumpkin carvings, and creative costumes. Lighting up the porches and windows along with eerie jack-o’-lantern carvings marks the highlight of the season. But nothing spoils the fun faster than watching your carefully crafted pumpkin start to wilt and rot within days!
Well, don’t let your Halloween spirit fade! If you want to preserve jack-o’-lanterns and keep them fresh all season, we’ve got some simple tricks to keep them in top shape. Let’s explore how to preserve their frightful charm and make them last long!
- Pick the Perfect Pumpkin
The hard ones are the best ones! Avoid the soft spots on the pumpkin, even a small soft spot indicates that it’s beginning to rot. Also, ensure to choose the blemish-free and un-gauged pumpkin skin to keep it away from pests. Pumpkins having a flat surface are stable and form a good base when kept on the table or floor.
Try to choose the ones that are locally grown because it ensures that the pumpkins are less travelled, preventing bangs and it also promotes local businesses.
- Create a Shelter
Creating a shelter is one of the best ways to preserve Halloween pumpkins. You can create an umbrella like structure to protect the pumpkins from the England’s unpredictable rain and damp conditions during Halloween period.
Placing an umbrella prevents mould and decay by minimising moisture formation. It also protects against intense sun rays that may dry or shrivel the pumpkin. You can also install sturdy and durable sun shade sails or solar shades for shielding against scorching sun and gusty winds.
- Wait Before Carving
Before you start carving, prepare your jack-o’-lantern to avoid being rotten. To do so, clean the outer layer of the pumpkin thoroughly by washing it with soapy water or wiping with damp cloth. Carving without cleaning can spread the dirt and bacteria from the outer layer to inside. Ensure to clean the tools you use to carve the pumpkin.
Whenever starting to scoop out the pulp and seeds, ensure that it is completely scraped out, leaving no residue because the inside is also prone to mould and decay. Remember to carve only when required and not too much in advance. Also, keep out of reach from direct sunlight, rain and chills.
Once done, dip the carved pumpkin in bleach water and spray it from all sides, clean and drain it perfectly. In the end, rub the petroleum jelly on all cut surfaces to keep the new bacteria from growing and extend the pumpkin’s lifespan.
- Cover Using Towel or Sheets
Covering the pumpkin well will help preserve it by protecting it from cold temperatures, frost, and excessive moisture. In England, chilly autumn nights can cause pumpkins to soften and deteriorate faster. A lightweight cover acts as insulation, preventing frost from settling directly on the pumpkin’s surface, which can accelerate rotting.
Additionally, the cover can absorb any dew or moisture, reducing the risk of mould growth. By shielding your pumpkins this way, you create a barrier that helps maintain their freshness and prolongs their festive display.
- Keep the Critters Away
This is the perfect time for squirrels to move around for fruit and nuts feast. To keep your pumpkin safe from them, use peppermint spray on the pumpkin from above or use hot pepper to deter animals.
This is apparently too spicy for critters’ taste buds. Keeping the pumpkins fresh and vibrant will also lead to a great Halloween outdoor setting with complementing garden furniture covers and other decorations.
- Don’t Use Candles to Light Up the Pumpkin
After carving out the perfect Halloween pumpkin, you may wish to lighten it with candles for a frightening yet charming look. However, you must know that candles can shorten the jack-o’-lanterns lifespan by cooking the entire flesh inside.
Instead, you can use flickering light bulb or glowing stick of the colour of your choice for creating the perfectly enlightened spooky pumpkin. This is one of the best ways to achieve long lasting jack-o’-lanterns.
- Store it in the Fridge, but Differently
If you are unable to do the above methods and still looking for ways on how to stop jack-o’-lanterns from rotting in an easy and convenient manner, we have the perfect solution!
This is one of the bonus tips to store the Halloween pumpkin in the fridge overnight. It is a great way to slow down the decomposition process and let the pumpkin stay away from bugs and critters. But, storing it just like that isn’t the right way, instead, cover the pumpkin with a plastic bag and keep it gently and stably in the fridge.
- 50° to 60° Fahrenheit is the Ideal Temperature
Pumpkins should be stored in a cool, dry place, in an ideal 50 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit temperature and 50-70% humidity. The higher the humidity, the higher the chances of condensation causing disease, and lower the humidity, greater are the chances of dehydration.
When your pumpkin carving is not on display, you can store it in refrigerator to keep it fresh for the entire Halloween season. Keeping the pumpkin outside in freezing temperatures is likely to make it rot.
You can display these pumpkins along with heavy duty tarpaulins covering the patio and stylish outdoor chair covers for creating a beautiful garden space.
Conclusion
With these simple yet effective tips on Halloween pumpkin care guide, you can keep your jack-o’-lanterns fresh and vibrant throughout the spooky season. These tricks will help ensure your festive display stays frightfully fun and fabulous all Halloween long!
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