Are there any methods you can use to prevent your Halloween pumpkin from getting moldy? Follow these steps to save your jack-o-lanterns from this!
Although pumpkins are typically durable fruits, they can quickly become moldy when used as carved lanterns for Halloween. Some factors, such as early or incorrect purchase and carvings, play a decisive role and can cause mold to form. Improper storage of such fresh decorations can also cause them to rot relatively quickly. Fortunately, there are effective tricks you can use with common household products to ensure that every jack-o-lantern stays fresh until the holiday season. Below you can find out some easy ways to do this.
Why does a Halloween pumpkin go moldy and what to do about it?
If you are busy with your childrenCarving their pumpkinswere, mold can quickly ruin these true works of art. Therefore, in the first place, it is important to choose healthy fruits without bumps or damaged peel, as well as with a firm stem. In addition, even after purchase, you should ensure that your chosen pumpkins reach your home undamaged. If the stem is broken, bruised or cracked, fungi and other bacteria can quickly colonize the fruit and form mold. A simple and smart option when traveling by car is to protect the pumpkin with a seat belt.
Also try to carry heavy pumpkins with both hands to prevent their stems from breaking. You can also make your selection based on the hollow sound you hear when typing on the bark. Test thatCandidates for Halloween decorationsalso check for freshness by pressing against the bottom side with your finger. If this gives way, it is a pumpkin that has been stored for a long time and is prone to rot. Otherwise, you can follow the steps below to prevent a Halloween pumpkin from going moldy.
Clean pumpkins and store them properly
As cucurbits ripen in fields, they attract various insects that can lay eggs on them and damage the fruit. For this reason, you should carefully wipe picked or purchased pumpkins before storing them to remove any organisms or contaminants attached to them. In this way, you will make each of them more durable and improve its appearance with a shiny fruit peel.
- For this purpose you can use wipes and bleach as it asHome remedies for bacteriaand mushrooms is quite effective.
- Another trick after carving is to spray the inside of the pumpkin with a solution of water and bleach. This will prevent it from rotting faster and allow you to keep it fresh longer as a fresh Halloween decoration. For this you need about 2-3 teaspoons of bleach per 1 liter of water. You can also soak the entire jack-o'-lantern in diluted bleach while wearing rubber gloves to eliminate any microorganisms. Then let the decoration dry thoroughly before displaying it.
- If storage surfaces are impermeable and hard, exposure to the elements can also cause your Halloween pumpkin to become moldy. Prevent rot and mold by storing your pumpkins in shady, dry and ventilated places rather than directly on the ground. Metal or wooden tables and shelves in garden sheds or cellars are suitable for this.
- If the temperatures outside are below freezing or there are frequent rains, you can wrap your pumpkins with bags before Halloween if they are already carved. Smaller pieces can also be stored in refrigerators and displayed again shortly beforehand.
How to prevent a Halloween pumpkin from molding through proper carving?
It's also important not to carve pumpkins too early so they can look fresh come Halloween. It's best to plan this for the week before the festival and also take the weather conditions into account when setting it up. In addition, you should hollow out the chosen fruit well and remove as many pumpkin seeds as possible from the interior. This also applies to the fibrous pulp, which promotes mold formation and can attract pests. To avoid carving mistakes, follow these steps:
- When removing the seeds and pulp, check the inner walls for suspicious bruises and colors. When they are rotten, they are softer and most likely already infected with fungi, bacteria or water mold.
- Also, keep an eye out for strange smells that are often given off by rotting pumpkins when you smell them while carving them. In such cases, the Halloween pumpkin is more likely to become moldy and therefore rot more quickly.
- As a preventive measure, you can use a trick with vegetable oil or petroleum jelly after carving. Smear it on the inside and the cut edges to protect them from influences. These affordable household products help reduce moisture loss and keep the jack-o-lantern looking fresh for longer.
- When carving the pumpkins, you should also not make the walls too thin as this can dry out and warp your creations. Although lights are not as visible on thicker walls, you can experiment with some 3D shapes on them.
- In order not to damage the interior due to the heat, you can use LED lights instead of candles in your carved creations.
What further action should you take if a Halloween pumpkin becomes moldy?
- Since fall is typically rainy, when decorating your outdoor spaces for Halloween, be careful not to get fresh jack-o-lanterns drenched. These are best displayed under canopies or on the inside of a window.
- If you carved your pumpkins too early, you can try refreshing them. To do this, soak each of them in cold water just before the party.
- Also try to minimize the risk of pest infestations by keeping jack-o-lanterns as decorative items off the ground as much as possible. Covered outdoor tables and railings make perfect strategic places to place such decorations. You can also be creative and use themed elements such as hay bales or vintage chairs. This means that the Halloween decorations can be arranged more thematically and protected from mold formation at the same time.
- However, not all types of fungi will cause rot if a Halloween pumpkin becomes moldy. So check occasionally to see if it becomes mushy and excessively moldy on the inside.
- Prevent the appearance of fruit flies with traps, as these can also speed up the rotting process.
- If you have a garden, you can also use moldy pumpkins as compost after Halloween in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
