This week, advice on getting the most out of your fall decor. It’s PUMPKIN TIME!
Q: I love to put pumpkins out on display on my porch each fall but hate that mine tend to rot halfway through the season. How do I make mine last longer?
A: Â While there’s no guaranteed way to keep every pumpkin all season, the following things surely do help!
- Wash your pumpkins! Use mild, soapy water and a soft cloth. Clean all your pumpkins thoroughly before putting them out. Rot occurs when the skin is injured, and fungal spores touch the injury. Cleaning the pumpkin well removes any mold and fungal spores from the skin, greatly slowing this process.
- Put them in the shade. At least in the afternoon! Too much hot sun will damage the skin, starting the rotting process prematurely.
- Floor wax is your friend. A quick application of floor wax to the skin of the pumpkin (after cleaning the pumpkin well) will seal out the mold spores that might blow in on the breeze.
Pumpkins treated this way last far longer and will keep your fall displays looking great!