Plus garden to do's for October & November
By L.A. JacksonWant to enjoy your Great Pumpkin well past Halloween? For proper preservation, a pumpkin must be relatively unblemished, meaning no knife cuts or soft spots. Also, it will last longer with 2 to 3 inches of stem still attached.
Before storing your pumpkin, wipe off any dirt with a dry cloth. Check on it occasionally and, if any mold appears, clean it with a cloth that has a dab of vegetable oil on it. A minor case of mold on the skin won’t harm the inside of the pumpkin — just don’t let it get out of hand. Mold can not only spread over the outer rind, but it can penetrate into the pumpkin, if not stopped.
For better storage, a pumpkin’s outer skin needs to be toughened up, and this curing process can be easily done if the jack-o’-lantern is used as a Halloween decoration in a dry area not in direct sunlight.
If your pumpkin is not going to automatically transform into a Thanksgiving season decoration, put it in a cool place after Halloween. Basements are ideal because they are constantly cool and, as a bonus, usually a little on the humid side. Humidity, in moderate amounts, helps to reduce shrinkage. A garage or closet could also work.
Don’t store the pumpkin directly on a concrete floor, as the chilly cement could damage the rind. Tuck it away on a shelf, cushioned in a bed of straw or clean rags, if possible.
A suitably stored pumpkin will usually last two to three months, meaning that this Halloween leftover can easily be reincarnated into fresh pumpkin pies for the Thanksgiving or even Christmas dessert table!
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Lynne Smith |
October 22, 2019 |
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