Top 10 Things to Consider when Buying a Pumpkin?

When buying a pumpkin, the popular question of how long does a pumpkin last for, often comes up in conversation. With Carving a pumpkin high on the agenda to decorate your house, below we will go through the top 10 things you need to know when buying your pumpkin.

1.When should you buy your pumpkin?

At Andrews Greengrocers, we recommend you buy your pumpkin in the second week in October. This is the ideal time for your pumpkin to last throughout Holloween. Pumpkins if kept in the best conditions, can last between 8 to 12 weeks after they are picked from the farm. It's after you carve it that can reduce this time significantly. 

2.When should I carve my pumpkin?

Once you are ready with your pumpkin pattern and outlined it on the skin, its time to take a knife to your squash and carefully carve. We recommend all pumpkin carving to be done with close parental guidance to ensure all carving is done safely. 

When the Pumpkin is carved and hollowed out, it will last around 5 to 10 days before it starts to wilt and will begin to smell like the rotting vegetable it is. This is because 80-90% of all pumpkin is water. The high water content means they're very healthy for you while also being low in calories. To ensure the pumpkin lasts the longest when carved out, try to ensure the conditions are cold with a high humidity level with plenty of air circulation. Decorate your front window with your pumpkin, though if there's a radiator nearby, try to avoid using it as much as possible to ensure the pumpkin lasts.

3. How to make your Pumpkin last even longer!

When selecting your pumpkin, make sure you select a perfectly unblemished pumpkin from the shop as if it has gouges or blemishes, this means it is not as fresh as others.

If the pumpkin is soft to touch, it means it will probably not last as long as you would like.

As soon as you start carving your pumpkin, the clock starts ticking the minute you make the first incision into your pumpkin. Once you have scooped out the insides of your pumpkin, you should spray the insides with peppermint dish soap, as peppermint is anti-fungal and will slow the pumpkin's decomposing process.

4. Can I refrigerate my pumpkin?

You can refrigerate your pumpkin once it is carved wrapped in a big bag to re-hydrate the lantern during the day whilst not in use. Another way to re-hydrate is to soak the pumpkin in a large bucket of cold water overnight. 

5. Did you know? Pumpkins are fruits, not Vegetables

Fruits are considered to be part of the plant that has seeds on the inside. By this definition, a pumpkin is definitely a fruit. Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family, which includes other fruits like watermelon and winter squash.

6. The first Jack-o'-Lanterns

Before the first Pumpkins were carved as is common known across the world today, Jack-o'-Lanterns were made by carving turnips or potatoes - not pumpkins.

The Irish and Scottish used them as part of their pagan Celtic celebrations, while the English did the same thing, just with beets instead. In fact, the tradition of the jack-o'-lanterns stems from the Irish legend of a man names Stingy Jack who was known as somewhat of an unpleasant trickster.

7.Pumpkins grow EVERYWHERE

Pumpkins are grown on every continent except Antarcitca. They even grow in Alaska.

8. World Largest Pumpkin Pie

The largest pumpkin pie ever made was 20 feet in diameter and weighed 3,699 pounds/ 1,677.83 KGs. It eas made in September 2010 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers (USA) at the New Bremen Pumpkinfest in New Bremen, Ohio. 

9. National Pumpkin Day

National Pumpkin is an unofficial holiday that is celebrated annually on October 26th. The holiday serves as a day to give thanks for the squash that has been such an integral part of North American heritage. It's also a convenient day to carve a pumpkin as most pumpkins will last beyond Halloween.

10.World's Largest Pumpkin

The world record is currently held by Mathias Willemijns from Belgium, who smashed the previous record by more than 300 pounds in 2016. Brothers Stuart and Ian Paton from Hampshire hold the UK world record: their enormous 2,269LB pumpkin, which they watered with up to 100 gallons of water a day, was the star of the Autum Pumpkin Festival in Netley, Hampshire.

Looking to buy your very own pumpkin? Buy online as Andrews Greengrocers by clicking this link