How fast do pumpkins rot

Do you go fat and round? Tall and thin? Mini and flat? And what about color? No matter your pumpkin preference, you always end up getting attached to the adorable little or big decorative gourd that comes home with you. Do you cut it freehand or do you use a pumpkin stencil? The pumpkin-carving struggle is real — and very time consuming. From hungry bugs and squirrels to bothersome rot and worst of all teenagers, there are a lot of threats you need to protect your pumpkin from.

The good news? Before learning how to keep pumpkins from rotting, you need more information about the whole process. Naturally, pumpkin rot happens when the squash is exposed to air aka oxidation or loses moisture aka dehydration , so rotting essentially begins the second the pumpkin is cut from the plant. But that rotting process can be pretty slow going if the pumpkin is left alone.

The rotting process really begins the second the inside of a pumpkin is exposed to these things. So, carving a pumpkin means you are exposing it to those elements, which in turn means your carved pumpkin is going to eventually rot and break down. Some dents and boils are just unique shapes that happen while the pumpkin is growing, but if the skin is actually punctured, gouged, or dinged, the pumpkin is more likely to attract pests and rot faster.

Feel the pumpkin for soft spots. You want a pumpkin that is uniformly firm when you press on it. If a pumpkin feels heavy and loose inside, skip it — the insides might already be rotten.

Plus, the cleaner the pumpkin, the less quickly it will begin to rot. After the pumpkin is completely gutted and cleaned with a bleach solution, be sure to let it dry fully before carving or setting it outside. If your pumpkin is still wet when you set it outside, mold is more likely to form.

Here are some pumpkin drying tips:. This will ensure the pumpkin stays fresh for a longer amount of time. At this point, it might seem like your pumpkin has become pretty high-maintenance. But the key to keeping your pumpkin fresh longer is making sure it stays moisturized.

You can make a spray at home using soap, peppermint oil and water to help keep mold at bay. Peppermint has anti-fungal properties, which will help keep fungus and mold away. Use this homemade spray on the inside, outside and especially around any carved edges of your pumpkin to help keep it moisturized. Here are some pumpkin bath tips:.

Instead of carving your pumpkin, you can still decorate it with glitter, googly eyes, yarn, construction paper and more. Pumpkins set lots of flowers then drop the fruit the plant can't sustain to maturity. It's fine to leave any mushy fruit on the vines, but gently lift the healthy pumpkins and place them on a small wooden box, straw nest, or small pallet to protect them from getting too wet, says Buskirk. Try raised beds and hills.

If you have loads of problems with rotting fruit, try planting in raised bed planters or hills about 3 to 4 feet wide next year. Sow about 3 to 4 seeds per planter or hill, then thin to one or two plants. When the pumpkins are set, place the fruits up on the tops of the planters or beds, which allows the extra water to run off.

In smaller gardens, you can grow pumpkins vertically on a trellis or fence, providing additional support for heavy fruit by making little hammocks from bean or pea netting.

Wash down the outside before carving. Keep your carved pumpkin safe from squishiness by wiping down the outside with a diluted bleach solution before carving. This will remove microbes that cause decay.

Remove every bit of pulp so you won't attract any bugs, then wipe down all surfaces, inside and out, after you finish your masterpiece. Stay cool. Keep your carved pumpkin out of direct sunlight and refrigerate it for up to ten days when not on display, especially if you live in a warmer climate. Learn how long carved pumpkins last, so you can carve your Halloween pumpkin at the best time.

Plus, get tips on how to make carved pumpkins last longer. While it may be tempting to show off the impressive results of your use of pumpkin carving stencils throughout October, it's a smart idea to learn how long carved pumpkins last first so you can carve your Halloween pumpkin at the best time. To make sure your carved pumpkins last until Halloween, we've consulted a couple pumpkin pros for their top tips.

Follow their advice for when to pick and carve pumpkins, and your masterpiece is sure to look fresh on Halloween night—though you can practically guarantee your jack-o'-lantern will look great on Halloween by learning how to make pumpkins last longer. The best time to pick a pumpkin is within a week of when you plan to carve it, according to Marc Evan of Maniac Pumpkin Carvers.