Thread: Fast pumpkin decay

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I carved a pumpkin on Wednesday the 20th of October. I had a halloween 22nd of October and the pumpkin was withering already. Well, we went to lake tahoe on Saturday and we came back and the pumpkin was rolled onto it's back because it had softened up and full of mold and water. It had been inside the whole time from purchase to carving. What can make this happen so fast? I keep my house at 72 degrees air conditioned.

I purchased the pumpkin at walmart but it's no excuse to "rollback" that soon lol!

Carved pumpkins like cold. Putting them in the fridge at night helps, sometimes soaking them in a sink of cold water rehydrates and freshens them. If I carve one early, I coat it in petroleum jelly to keep it fresh. Carving on the 20th, is very early, especially for one kept indoors where the warmth encourages decay.

There is still time to carve another!

Also, if you wash it inside and out with a bleach/water solution after removing all the guts, it will keep longer. Bacteria is as much the enemy as warmth and dry conditions.

OMG.... I just bought 3 pumpkins from Walmart.... they seemed a little bit ripe but I hoped they would last for a week

I bought 3 of mine at the 99 cent only store 3 weeks ago and they are still hard as a rock! We will not carve them untill 3 days prior to halloween. They should last though the big night. Hope you get another that does not have any rollbacks! Lol!

I got a nice one a couple of weeks ago at stop and shop. I wouldn't dare carve it until Friday or Saturday. It's fine now but once it's cut, it'll go quick. They only really look their best for a couple of days- especially if they're old to begin with and even more so if it's an intricate jack with lots of small cuts. I almost bought a pumpkin the first few days they were out- like October 1st. They were out that early this year. I waited a couple of weeks and got a good one. Have fake one to float your boat through the month, and carve your masterpiece two days prior at most- in my opinion.

Da