Pumpkin carving season will soon be upon us and the kids will come up with some marvellous creations.
But, it’s always a shame when they wilt and flop after a day or two of being a jack-o-lantern.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to preserve them for longer, aside from a full paint job.
What actually happens is pumpkin start to oxidise and decompose from the very first knife incision.
To get them to last longer you will need a spray bottle, water, bleach or Dr Bronner’s Peppermint Soap, Vaseline or WD-40, a plastic bag and a bin or bucket big enough to fit your pumpkin in.
Once the seeds are out make sure any sign of moisture is out, then remove as much flesh as possible so it is down to just the rind.
The Gonursery.com website explains what to do next: “Do not carve the face or design yet. You need to sterilise and dry the inside and outside first. This step is important for the prevention of bacterial growth from the very beginning.
“Spray the inside and out of the pumpkin with a bleach and water solution (1 teaspoon of bleach per quart of water) (or) a sudsy spray of Dr Bronner’s Peppermint Soap. After spraying, allow the pumpkin to dry out completely before beginning to carve.”
Then carve your creation.
Then give it a long soak in a bleach/water bath in the bucket. Use 1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water. Soak no longer than 24 hours.
Once dry, coat the carved edges with a moist preservative such as petroleum jelly or WD-40 to keep them moist.
Avoid real candles which soften the tissue of the rind, choosing glow sticks, battery powered lights, or LED flickering candles.
The website adds: “During the days, with the lighting removed, spray your pumpkin with the same bleach/water or peppermint soap solution you sprayed it with in the first step. This will keep your pumpkin from drying out, while making the new moisture inhospitable to mold and bacteria. You can also opt to submerge your pumpkins in a cold bath of this mixture as an alternative to spraying.
“Another trick to keeping pumpkins fresh and moist is to store them in plastic bags in your refrigerator when they are not on display. Not everyone has the fridge space for this, but if you do, you’ll find yourself with much longer lasting pumpkins.”