How to Pick Out a Halloween Pumpkin

Picking out a Halloween pumpkin is easy if you know where and what to look for. Follow the simple steps below to make sure you're proud of the pumpkin you've carved and displayed on the front stoop. A few key characteristics to look for will ensure that you pick out the right pumpkin.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Plan on going pumpkin shopping early--sometime early in October is your best bet. You'll get the "pick of the patch" by claiming your perfect pumpkin early on. Just don't carve it right away or it'll rot before Halloween.

2. Have an idea on what you'd like to carve. A face, or something less traditional like an animal or a scene, or a worded carving are all good options.

3. Visit a local pumpkin patch to pick out a Halloween pumpkin. If you don't have a pick-your-own patch nearby, try a farm stand, farmer's market, or a local co-op. You'll have the best variety and freshness going those routes. If you don't have any of those options, there are still plenty of pumpkins available at grocery stores and/or Wal-Mart.

4. Pick an overall pumpkin shape based on what you plan on carving. Ask yourself if your carving idea will look best on a tall oval-shaped one or a squat round pumpkin.

5. Look over the entire pumpkin. Check for a deep orange color on all sides, and make sure it's fairly blemish free. Scars, scrapes, soft spots, or visible mold/mildew will likely cause your pumpkin to rot quickly. But bumps or dents that don't break the skin may actually be desired features for your particular carving, so don't discard them immediately. For example, a bump might be a good wart on a witch's nose.

6. Try to sit the pumpkin upright (even if it's still on the vine) to make sure it will stay that way for when you want to display it.

7. Pick a pumpkin that has a good stem still attached. The stem not only adds character, but also makes it much easier to remove the "top" when you carve the pumpkin.

8. Store the pumpkin in a cool, dry place until it's carving time. Keep it inside if frost is a threat. Try not to carve it more than a week in advance or you'll have a shriveled pumpkin come Halloween.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't carry the pumpkin by it's stem or you risk breaking it off before carving. Cradle the pumpkin from the bottom or place it in a cart to transport.
• Store-bought pumpkins probably won't last as long due to the shipment process. Bruises and scars are likely from all the jostling, and they were probably picked weeks before being placed in the store displays.
• If the pumpkin you pick is heavy, remember to lift with your legs and not your back in order to avoid injury.

Resources

• Picking Out the Perfect Halloween Pumpkin

[tracysmith159]

on 10/1/2009 Well written article on picking out pumpkins.

[survivoryea]

on 10/1/2009 Good tips for getting that perfect pumpkin! thanks