It seems like it is finally fall! My family and I visited Stokes Family Farm in Greenville this past weekend. It was so cool, they had a pig race, petting zoo, corn blaster, ice cream and so much more! My daughter, Willa, won a pig nose when her pig Kermit The Hogg placed first in the race. Their newest attraction was this really neat barn that had live rabbits to hold and several areas where kids could be everything from Firefighters to Hair Stylists! There were bunches and bunches of pumpkins and this really interesting pumpkin house (if you don’t know, you just don’t know). We had a great time but it reminded me that pumpkin-picking season is upon us. This is the time of year when we begin to see the fall decorations come out from hay bales and corn stalks to pumpkins and gourds. How do we make sure our decorations will last?

The perfect pumpkin begins with the grower. If you have decided to grow in your backyard, it begins with the right variety for your home garden. This is where you may want to do a little homework and pay attention to the size, 50 pound plus pumpkins are hard to carve! Most pumpkin varieties do not do well in our heat and humidity either. Extension Area Specialized Agent, Erin Eure does a variety test every year so that we can recommend what will grow well here.

Plant pumpkins in an area that receives full sunlight and has well-drained soil. The soil pH should be between 6.0 and 6.5, but, always get a soil test to make sure. Soils with a lower clay content are preferred but heavy soils can be amended with organic matter to work well. Always rotate your pumpkins and other cucurbit crops (squash) with non-cucurbit crops to lessen the instance of soil-borne and foliar diseases.

Pumpkins are a longer-season crop so, the next step in growing your own is to make sure that you get them planted at the right time and in the right place. Pumpkin cultivars can vary greatly in the length of days until maturity, anywhere from 90 days up to 125 days. According to the 2023 Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook, in Eastern North Carolina that time would be between June 15th
and July 10th to have pumpkins ready to harvest in time for Halloween.

Harvest pumpkins when uniformly orange and the rind is good and hard by cutting the stem with lopping shears or a sharp knife. Make certain to leave a good portion, typically 3 – 6 inches, of stem attached to the pumpkin. Do not carry your pumpkin by the stem, this can cause bruising or cutting, allowing pathogens to enter the fruit. If fruits are to be used right away, wash them with a 10% bleach solution. If fruit is to be stored, dry the rind, and then put in a shed or other place out of sun that maintains a temperature between 70°F and 80°F for 7 – 10 days. This is the process of curing, it will harden the stem and rind even further.

My Daughter, Willa Grace, at Stokes Family Farm in Greenville, NC. Photo Credit: Kayla Fox

If you are purchasing your pumpkins, go to a local grower if possible. Ask them if their pumpkins have been cured. Curing preserves the fruit for a longer storage life. If properly cured and stored, pumpkins can last for up to 3 months. Check to make sure there is plenty of stem still attached and uniform color. Feel around the fruit to check for any soft spots. Pumpkins with soft spots will rot much quicker. Handle the pumpkins with care to not bruise or puncture the skin.

What about carving a pumpkin? The biggest concerns in keeping pumpkins are preserving moisture loss and preventing pathogens for as long as possible. There are a few steps that we can take at home to aid in our quest to preserve our pumpkin décor for as long as possible.

•  Wash your pumpkin in a 10% bleach solution before carving (9 parts water to 1 part chlorine bleach)
• Make sure the pumpkin is completely dry before carving
• Handle the pumpkin as little and as gingerly as possible
• Cut a hole in the rear of the fruit as small as is necessary, instead of the top
• Remove all of the guts and dry the inside of the pumpkin
• Once the pumpkin is carved, submerge it in a 10% bleach solution for 24 hours, dry it completely
• Seal the cuts with Vaseline or vegetable oil to prevent moisture loss (caution, these products are flammable, do not use a real candle)
• Place the pumpkin in a protected area away from direct sun, rain, and frost
• Use a glow stick or an electric candle to light. Candles create heat, shortening shelf-life
• Using a spray bottle, spray your creation down with the 10% bleach solution every day

If you employ all of these, your pumpkin should last between 8 and 11 days so do not carve too soon! If you paint or use markers to decorate your pumpkin it will last much longer. For more information, check out the NC State Extension Homegrown series on How to Pick and Keep the Perfect Pumpkin. You can find it on YouTube or our Homegrown website.

Happy Fall Y’all!!

If you have a question to submit, please email Gene Fox at gene_fox@ncsu.edu. Having trouble with growing in your home landscape, ask an NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteer (EMG volunteer) through the Beaufort County Master Gardener Facebook page. Until then, happy gardening!