Tips for Pumpkin Picking & Carving
In the world of pumpkins, there are the varieties that are great for carving – and those that are made for eating. Selecting the perfect pumpkin for carving can be a real adventure considering all the different shapes, sizes, and colors out there. And like people, every pumpkin has its unique characteristics, giving it a personality all its own. Pumpkin carving is a tradition your whole family can enjoy, so here’s a few tips on picking and carving one.
Choose a design before shopping for a pumpkin. Think about which shape would best suit your design – tall and narrow or fat and round. If you’re using a stencil, look for a pumpkin with a shape similar to the pattern you’re planning to carve.
Look for a pumpkin that’s…
- firm and free from cuts, soft spots and bruises.
- sits well on the ground and is stable.
- includes a bit of stem.
When carving…
- wipe your pumpkin off with a little bleach and water (approx. 1 tsp. bleach to 1 cup water) before you begin. This will greatly cut down on fungus.
- don’t cut into your pumpkin around stem. Cutting out a stem cap weakens the pumpkin. Instead, access the pumpkin from backside – this will help preserve freshness. Hiding the opening in the back also gives the pumpkin more visual appeal.
- scrape and clean the inside of the pumpkin as much as possible. The cleaner you get it, the longer you’ll have a great looking jack-o-lantern. (gut it out twice as much as you think you need to).
- place your finished masterpiece in a dry, shady area – it will last longer!
TIPS:
- Tall, thin shapes are perfect for funny and whimsical faces. Round shapes are ideal for happy and scary ones.
- Oddly shaped pumpkins are perfect for creating unique characters.
- Consider a white pumpkin, when unlit, white pumpkins appear to glow as the daylight fades.
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