When fall comes around, the pumpkins come out. Fall season means it’s time to break out the pumpkin carvings and decorate homes for Halloween. You can also attend as many fall festivals as you possibly can. Pumpkins are synonymous with fall, but sometimes finding the perfect pumpkin is challenging.
Here are several tips to help spend less time picking pumpkins and more time running around the pumpkin patch.
Color makes a difference.
Ever attended the fall festival in Kansas City? If your answer is yes, you’ll agree that colorful pumpkins line the grounds. A pumpkin that will last through October has a deep orange shade.
If you select pale yellow pumpkins, chances are they won’t get to Halloween. Green pumpkins are okay, but you might have to wait until it turns orange to start carving.
Scabs and dark spots are a no-no.
After you find a colorful pumpkin, check your Halloween treasure for dark and oft spots. You don’t want to go for a pumpkin that will rot within a week. Avoid scabs, holes, and dark spots if you want a long-lasting pumpkin. However, if you’re going for short-term use, minor imperfections are okay.
You can feel around the pumpkin and press the skin with your fingers to determine its longevity.
The stem tells a story.
Believe it or not, you can determine the health of a pumpkin by examining its stem. So, if you spot a pumpkin with a green stem, run towards the treasure. A green stem is an indication of a healthy and long-lasting pumpkin.
Stems dry up over time. But that doesn’t mean they’re bad either. Look for signs of mold in such pumpkins before discarding them.
Mini pumpkins cause major problems.
Maybe you want your Halloween decorations to be cute; who knows? But going for mini pumpkins only spells disaster. These pumpkins are hard to carve and increase the chances of a knife accident. In fact, you might need to revisit the pumpkin patch because they fall apart quickly.
So, if you want a smooth and fun carving experience, larger pumpkins do the trick.
