Pumpkin Preservation: Tips to Keep Your Gourds Fresh Through Thanksgiving

As the air turns crisp and the leaves fall, we’re sure you’re thinking about (or maybe already have) stocking up on pumpkins. Whether you've picked your own or bought them from us at Dammann’s, keeping your pumpkins fresh through Thanksgiving and all the fall celebrations can be a challenge. Fear not! With a few simple tricks, you can ensure your pumpkins remain vibrant and ready for carving, decorating, or turning into delicious pies.

Handle with care

First things first, try your best to keep your hands off your pumpkin! The oils from your fingers can speed up the rotting process, so only touch your pumpkins when you absolutely need to.

Handling the pumpkin too aggressively can also lead to unwanted cuts from fingernail snags or bruises from gripping too hard. Ideally, you'll set your pumpkin in its desired home for the season, and it won't be touched again!

Location is key

Set those gords up for success! Keep them in a dry, shaded spot all season long. Porches are perfect!

Bathe your pumpkins

You heard that right, bathe your pumpkins every now and again. Mix one part bleach to ten parts water in a large container and let your pumpkin bathe in the solution for two minutes. Let your pumpkin dry completely before setting it back in its designated home. 

Pro- tip: The bleach-water concoction can also be used as a daily spray to keep your pumpkins healthy.

Elevate your pumpkin

Don't let your Halloween get any scarier with pests around your pumpkins. Pumpkins are vegetables, which means bugs and critters want to snack on them just as much as they like to enjoy other produce in your garden. The most effective way to avoid squirrel-sized bites on your pumpkins is by keeping your pumpkins off the ground. Keep them on a ledge or get creative with haybales! 

Hold off on carving

Ultimately, fresh, uncut pumpkins will maintain their freshness for much longer than carved ones. Once the insides of your pumpkins are exposed to air they will begin to rot. If you can’t resist carving your jack-o’-lantern, try to hold off as close to Halloween as possible.

There are dozens of tips and tricks to keep your pumpkins fresh for as long as you can. These are just a few of our favorites. Give them a try! Happy fall, y’all!