Posted on October 20, 2011

There is nothing more heartbreaking than a pumpkin that shrivels before it’s prime.  

You’ve seen it before.  That beautiful carving a week later is unrecognizable.  Those once orange beauties are now moldy balls of mush.  

Something needs to be done to stop this tragedy from occurring.

That is why we hear at Faulkner’s Ranch are providing this: 
A Public Service Announcement
for 
Preserving Your Pumpkins.

That’s right, there are steps that you can take to prevent this unnecessary early fatality.
Below are some things that you most likely have sitting around the house that can help your pumpkin live a long and happy life.

Rub Vaseline or petroleum jelly on the carved edges and inside of your pumpkins.  This will keep moisture in and prevent premature shriveling.

Spray your pumpkin with water and cover it with plastic wrap and then store it in the refrigerator when it is not on display.  This will also help to prevent early decomposition.

Soak or spray the pumpkin with water mixed with a little bit of bleach.  This will help ward off mold and kill insects for longer preservation.

If you have a display of mini pumpkins, say in a bowl, pop in one of those silica packs that come in purses and other store bought items.  This will keep the pumpkins fresher for a longer period of time.  You can also put the silica packs in your carved pumpkins to prevent mold (Be sure to leave them in the pack though!)

If your pumpkin is showing signs of shriveling, soak it in water for several hours. The more shriveled the pumpkin, the longer it needs to soak. When the pumpkin is removed from the water, dry the inside with a towel as much as possible to impede mold growth. Dried-out pumpkins can be revived almost completely with this technique.

A Few Other Tips:
If your pumpkins are on display indoors, they need to be in a cool place.  If your pumpkins are on display outdoors, they should be placed out of the heat and direct sunlight. 

We hope that you get to enjoy your pumpkins for as long as possible with these helpful tips!

Do you have any pumpkin preservation tips that we didn’t list? Please send them our way!

~ Your Friends at Faulkner’s