Now that the fall season is here and fall decor is in full force, real pumpkins are popping up everywhere from farm stands to front porches. I love all of the different varieties and colors and ones that go from super huge to the cute little minie that are perfect for centerpieces. Depending on where you buy them, more often than not, they’re pretty dirty, and of course they would be, since they’re grown on the ground and all.
Here are a few proof positive ways to wash a pumpkin to briefly prolong its life, and the reason why pumpkins should never be soaked in the sink.
I learned all of my squash and pumpkin growing and caring tips from my Great Aunt Dot. She was a master gardener up to her death at the age of 97, and she had the most beautiful flower gardens and her vegetable gardens yielded huge crops year after year. She had odd methods that totally worked, of how to grow the best vegetables, tomatoes in particular, and I don’t even know how she came up with such practices – like, she would take a large empty coffee can, poke holes all the way around with an ice pick, squeeze the can in half and plant it in the ground, leaving the top exposed. She would plant the tomato plant directly behind the can and would only water the tomato plant through the can.
And her tomatoes were glorious!
She took the same kind of care with her squashes and pumpkins, growing ones so perfectly shaped and delicious that she’d go viral on Pinterest this day and age. When it came time to harvest her pumpkins, she never, ever, soaked pumpkins in the sink or in the bathtub. She would tell me this sternly.
The Best Tips For Cleaning Pumpkins
There are so many methods out there suggesting the best way to clean pumpkins and the best way to preserve them to keep them from rotting. Everything from bleach and vinegar solutions to even smearing WD-40 over the surface, which I think is pretty far-fetched and would just be a messy situation gone even more wrong. I’m going to share with you Aunt Dot’s pumpkin cleaning methods that are tried and true, and are obviously the test of time. So, they work.
- In a small bucket, mix one tablespoon of bleach, one tablespoon of Dawn dishwashing liquid to 1 cup of warm water. Mix together and then rub on the pumpkin surface with a cloth or old sponge until clean. Dry thoroughly with a clean cloth.
- In a small bucket, mix 1/4 cup distilled vinegar with 1 1/2 cups warm water. Rub the pumpkin surface with a cloth or old spong until clean. Dry thoroughly with a clean cloth.
- Using a small hand-held broom, brush off all of the dirt and excess debris. Keep out of contact with rain and weather.
Why Pumpkins Should Never Be Soaked In The Sink
Whenever I see pictures of pumpkins soaking in a bathtub or a sink, I cringe. Though it makes for a fun photo or reel, it might just be the worst thing you can do to try and clean and preserve a pumpkin. Here is the reason why pumpkins should never be soaked in the sink.
As with all fruits and vegetables, excess water causes rot. Too much rain can feed the fungi that relies on water to grow causing what is called blight. So, soaking pumpkins, even in a bleach / dish soap solution, is a true recipe for rot. The water soaks into the pumpkin and even with whatever magic solution, the water soaks in and penetrates the meat of a pumpkin, which then begins to rot from within and will deteriorate quicker than not soaking in the first place.
Pumpkins are no different from any other fruit or vegetable that is harvested. Once ripened and their lifesource has been cut off, the growing stops but the aging process continues. There’s really no stopping it. The least amount of water contact is truly best for pumpkins.
Simple Tip To Help Keep Pumpkins From Rotting Too Soon
The best and simplest tip to help keep pumpkins from rotting too soon is what I mentioned above: keep out of water contact and keep them dry at all costs. Uncarved pumpkins displayed on porch steps look so beautiful, but rot within days, depending on rainfall amounts. Look to display pumpkins in a dry spot on a well covered porch.
When using them as indoor decor, be sure and place a triple layer of paper towel underneath to wick up moisture and mold. This is just a good rule of thumb and when folded, you can disguise the paper toweling and keep it from showing.
When Is The Best Time To Carve A Pumpkin?
The best time to carve a pumpkin is a day or two before. Once the pumpkin is cut and the open flesh is exposed, then you’re really on borrowed time before the whole thing caves in and is in route to the compost bin. I’ve read that you can apply the bleach dish soap solution to the inside to slow down the rotting process, and I’ve read the same about vinegar. My theory: it doesn’t hurt to try and could buy you one more day. Maybe. It’s just best to carve a pumpkin on the day of Halloween or the day before.
My Top Picks For Faux Pumpkins To Display On Front Porches
All pumpkins whether live ones or faux ones, are an investment. Why not go with the faux so you can use them year after year! Here are a few of my faux favorites! Click on the photo to buy!
I hope you have found these pumpkin care tips valuable, and that you heed Aunt Dot’s advice and never, ever, soak pumpkins.
Super Cute Dollar Store Pumpkin Craft
Looking for a fun craft that is super easy and inexpensive? I’ve got a good one for you, transforming dollar store pumpkins into little beauties that would look lovely displayed in or next to your fall front porch planters.
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