![]() Hodge grows Phat Jack, Kratos, Secretariat, Captain Jack, Orange Sunrise, and Magic Lantern varieties among others. Choose a pumpkin variety that works well for carving.“A local producer may cost you a little more, yet the quality that you will get is much better than making a second trip somewhere to buy another pumpkin.” Make sure the skin is hard and inspect for punctures, nicks or cuts that could attract insects or make pumpkins rot faster. This will allow your pumpkin to stand up straight and display its jack-o’-lantern design. “Like most fruit, the longer they are off the plant the duller the color tends to get,” explains Hodge. Your perfect pumpkin should have bright, colorful skin. Soft or missing handles could mean the pumpkin is older, or that it will not store well. Make sure that the “handle,” or stem, is strong and sturdy.There are several things to look for to pick out a pumpkin that will make it all the way to Halloween: You may choose to buy a pumpkin “off the rack” - one already picked and displayed at your local store. ![]() After this, the pumpkin should be good for the rest of the season.” How to Pick the Best Store Pumpkin “After cutting, set the pumpkin upright in a dry area to allow the stem to dry and harden. Other pumpkins may be growing along the same vine, so keep it intact and don’t nick it or slice into it, says Hodge. When you have chosen your pumpkin, use a sharp knife to cut it away from the vine. This tops finding the perfectly round, perfectly carvable pumpkin, so go with your heart. Remember, half the fun of picking a pumpkin from the field is finding the one that speaks to you - the unique, the oddly shaped, or the one that completely fills your little red wagon. Taller or longer pumpkins tend to have stringier flesh that might be harder to clean away the “pumpkin guts” from the inside of the carving surface. If you plan to carve a jack-o’-lantern, look for a pumpkin without deep ribs or lots of curves - this will create a smoother carving surface. “This will allow water to drain away and it will keep the fruit off the ground.” “If you have these conditions in your home garden, a solution is to put a 1-inch layer of sand under the pumpkin,” Hodge says. Heavy rains and moisture are the biggest threat to pumpkins and can cause pumpkins to rot. They will also be the freshest pumpkins available. But local pumpkins are the best option, because the pumpkins will have traveled less and been handled less. Whether you are growing your own or choosing a pumpkin from a pick-your-own patch, Hodge says that most jack-o’-lantern type pumpkins ( Cucurbita pepo ) do not have issues with rotting on the vine. Straight From the Patch Mikkal Hodge, p resident of the Indiana Pumpkin Growers Association with a 1,188-pounder. Pie pumpkins are smaller, have higher sugar content, and have a thicker rind.Carving pumpkins grow larger and are more mealy in texture than pie pumpkins, and their thinner flesh makes them idea for carving.The pumpkins you buy to carve for Halloween are a different variety than the smaller sugar pumpkins you purchase for pie-making or even table decorations. “Finding a local source is the best way to ensure the money spent buys a long-lasting pumpkin.” Pumpkin Carver, or Pumpkin Eater? “We grow 4 acres of jack-o’-lantern pumpkins. ![]() “Picking a pumpkin that will last from September through October can be hit and miss,” says Mikkal Hodge, President of the Indiana Pumpkin Growers Association and owner of Small Town USA Apples & More. The experts say the answers aren’t carved in stone, but careful selection and care will help. But what is the perfect time to pick that ideal pumpkin for turning into a Halloween jack-o’-lantern? And how do you keep it from rotting before trick-or-treaters come knocking? You’re on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin.
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