When should you start buying and carving your pumpkins?
It’s official, we have entered the Halloween month. In around four weeks children across the nation will dress up in their scariest costumes to venture out to trick or treat.
Many of you will have already started planning your spooky season activities, one of which is pumpkin carving. To some, it is a competition to see who on their street can have the best pumpkin design. However, there is the risk that you could carve it too early, which will result in it going rotten before Halloween night.
To help prevent this, our experts at Household Quotes have revealed when you should buy your pumpkin, and how to spot the perfect one.
When should you buy your pumpkin?
Surprisingly, pumpkins can last anywhere between eight to twelve weeks, this means you can start planning your pumpkin-picking trip now.
However, when it comes to carving the pumpkins you must wait until closer to the time. This is because an open pumpkin will begin to rot and mould will build up (which would be truly terrifying). Aim to carve your pumpkin from October 26th onwards, this will ensure that it won’t be rotten come Halloween night.
How do I spot the perfect pumpkin?
- No damaged or blemished pumpkins
When looking for the perfect pumpkin, avoid ones that are already damaged or have blemishes on them. You will know when one is blemished when it has marks on the outside that hinders its appearance. These pumpkins rot quickly, and most likely won’t make it till the end of October.
- Avoid soft pumpkins
When you pick up a pumpkin, check how soft it is. Hard pumpkins will last longer as one being soft is a sign that it’s already beginning to rot.
- Look out for a green stem
If you go to a farm to pick your pumpkins, look out for ones that have a green stem. This will mean that the pumpkin is unripened which will result in it staying fresh for longer than those that don’t.
- Think about the size
The size of your pumpkin should relate to your carving ability. Smaller ones are harder, so if you aren’t as crafty then maybe you should go big. This will give you more space to make the perfect creation.
Joshua Houston, Home Design Expert at Household Quotes:
‘’Halloween is some people’s favourite time of the year, they love scary movies, along with the cold cosy nights. Pumpkin carving is a big part of the history, it’s great fun for couples and families.
Just make sure to be careful with those knives, the last thing you want is a trip to A&E when you should be preparing for Halloween night.’’