October brings all kinds of beloved traditions, and one of our favorites around here is pumpkin carving. We love carving and decorating our pumpkins into some truly interesting characters, and we often use every item in our craft supply bin to transform them! My kids especially love this tradition, and they try to out-do themselves every year.
With all that care and time put into making your Halloween masterpiece, you’ll want to preserve it for as long as possible. Read on for our easy and wildlife-friendly methods to keep your pumpkin grinning through Halloween night!
Preserving a Carved Pumpkin
The exposed pulp and seeds inside your pumpkin invites fungi, bacteria, fruit flies and other pests to feast on your creation. Before carving, be sure to scrape out as much of the inside fibers and seeds as possible. Not only will this help keep your pumpkin fresh, it will also make it easier to carve. A simple pumpkin carving kit with a serrated scoop spoon will make quick work of that pumpkin pulp!
Give Your Carved Pumpkin a Vinegar Bath
As you know if you already use it for cleaning, vinegar’s highly acidic properties will prevent mold and bacteria from growing on the inside of your pumpkin once it’s carved. As soon as you’ve finished carving, fully submerge your pumpkin in a sink or bucket full of 10 parts water and one part white vinegar. Soak for 20-30 minutes and let air-dry. If you’re not decorating or painting, your pumpkin is now ready to display! Best of all, this method is safe for wildlife, in case a squirrel or bird decides your pumpkin is a tasty snack. (Hopefully this doesn’t happen until after Halloween!)
Make Your Pumpkin Completely Unappealing to Wildlife
If you know you have some critters just waiting for you to leave your pumpkins unattended so they can start munching, you can try coating your pumpkin in a homemade spicy oil mixture. Vegetable oil has preservation qualities, and mixing it with a spicy hot sauce (like Tabasco or Frank’s Red Hot) will make your pumpkin less appealing to wildlife. Be sure to coat both the inside of your pumpkin as well as any cut edges. The mixture spread on the outside of your pumpkin will give it a glossy shine!
Preserve Your Uncarved Pumpkins
If you’re leaving your pumpkins to their natural beauty on your porch, you can still keep them looking fresh and critter-free with the vinegar/water bath discussed above. Or, if you’d also like to add a fresh scent to your porch while repelling bugs and critters, try the following mixture:
- 1 Tbsp Peppermint Castile Soap
- 4 Cups Plain Water
Shake the mix in a plastic spray bottle and spray your pumpkins liberally. You’ll want to make sure the outside of your pumpkin is dry first, and repeat this method daily for a fresh scent through the season.
How Long Will Your Pumpkin Last
You can expect your uncut pumpkin to last between eight and 12 weeks if it was given ideal conditions and was protected from cuts and bruising. Carved pumpkins will last between 3 and 14 days, depending on your outdoor climate and if you protected it with a disinfecting bath or coating.
We would love to hear from you and see your carved creations! Share your photos with us on social media:
Hi! I’m Jen. When my husband and I welcomed our first daughter in 2013, I left behind full-time employment in marketing graphic design and event planning to become a stay-at-home-mom. These days, I love planning uniquely-themed parties for my girls and adding colorful, unexpected spaces to my home. I also spend a lot of time crafting and gardening and adding flowers to just about everything! I hope you’ll enjoy following along on some of our projects, and sharing some of yours with us on social media!
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