5 Natural Ways to Make Your Pumpkin Last Longer
Don’t let your pumpkin rot or mold before Halloween! Learn these 5 Natural Ways To Make Your Pumpkin Last Longer and enjoy the season.
Halloween will be here before we know it and they have those pumpkins at the store a little earlier every year. My kids see them and they are ready to celebrate fall. I cringe because I know that it won’t take long before that pumpkin starts to rot. There is nothing worse than a slimy squishy pumpkin. YUK!
Over the years we have found tried and true All Natural ways to Make Your Pumpkin last Longer! Check them out!
Clean it Well.
When prepping your pumpkin for carving, be sure to scrape and discard as much of the pulp (insides) as possible. The cleaner and drier the pumpkin interior, the slower the rotting process.
Peppermint
Dilute one tablespoon of peppermint dish soap like this Peppermint Castile Soap or a few drops of peppermint essential oil in a quart of water. Pour into a clean spray bottle (can snag one at the dollar store). Lightly spray the inside of your pumpkin. Peppermint is a natural anti-fungal and will slow the decomposition process, significantly extending the life of your pumpkin.
Refrigerate Overnight
If you live in a warm climate like me. Hello Florida! Try putting your carved pumpkins in the fridge at night instead of leaving them on the porch. Spray your pumpkins with the Peppermint-water mixture and wrap them in a trash bag prior to placing them in the fridge. This process will rehydrate your pumpkins each night.
Soak overnight
Rehydrate that pumpkin by giving it a soak. Fill a large bucket, bin or tub with cold water. Soak pumpkins overnight. Typically, pumpkins set out for less than a week won’t need to be rehydrated, unless it is hot.
Use a fruit fly trap
Like any type of fruit left out, pumpkins attract fruit flies. Fruit Flies will not only be annoying but speed up the decomposition. This could turn into an awesome Homeschool Science Experiment or put up a fruit fly trap. Use Natural fruit fly solutions, like Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch! or this DIY mixture. They are a great natural way to keep the flies at bay.
Save those packets
You know those little desiccate packets that they put in shoeboxes, etc that say DO NOT EAT all over them. Those little packets help absorb access moisture. Throw a few inside your pumpkin to help keep mold at bay for as long as possible.
Fall is a fun time of year to celebrate with your family! Here’s hoping your pumpkin lasts!
