Thread: Jack-O-Lanterns

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I'm doing my first Jack-O-Lantern this Halloween. When would be the earliest I can put it out? Is it ok to my pumpkin now and just do my Jack-O-Lantern later?

Welcome to the wonderful world of curcurbit carnage

Originally Posted by HalloScream

I'm doing my first Jack-O-Lantern this Halloween. When would be the earliest I can put it out? Is it ok to my pumpkin now and just do my Jack-O-Lantern later?

Of course. Do as you will. I personally would not put out a "real" Jack until a day or so ahead of time, to avoid premature rot (I actually carve mine ON Halloween, but that's me). Others might disagree and have methods to prolong the life. An uncarved pumpkin should be fine now, though, depending on your weather. And on your squirrels...they like to eat them. I hate squirrels....

I'm not an experienced carver, but I'm hoping a week before Halloween will be ok, so as not to be too rotty.

A lot depends on where you live. Here in Texas, we're still having days in the 80's and a carved pumpkin would not last very long. Plus, the pumpkins we get have been harvested since mid September. I never carve mine more than a day or two in advance because I know they'll either shrivel up or rot in a matter of days. I can get a longer life out of them if I wash the whole thing in bleach water (after carving) and refrigerate it when on not on display but I rarely go to that much trouble anymore. That is what I did when my kids were little and could not wait to carve their pumpkins.
If your weather is cooler and your pumpkins fresher, you can probably get away with putting it out now, that is if you don't have pumpkin smashers lurking around the neighborhood!