How to Choose a Pumpkin for Halloween

How to Choose a Pumpkin for Halloween

Choosing a pumpkin is easy! First..

Do you want it for a party, decoration or eating?

For a wedding or party:

See this page: Finding pumpkins for weddings

Decoration to paint or carve:

OK, Then you need only look for any pumpkin that is

• visually appealing, evenly a deep orange. The shape is just whatever appeals to you. If it grew on its side and has a flat spot, you can either make that the make or use it as part of your design!
• free from cuts, soft spots, bruises. The flesh should feel hard, and not give easily. Infections can invade easily and cause rot
• Make sure the stem is attached.

Store it carefully, especially if you pick it from the vine yourself. Cure a fresh-picked pumpkin by keeping it in a dry place. Don't handle or disturb it. Curing toughens the rind, making it less prone to rot. Pumpkins will keep for months in a cool (50 F to 65F dry, low humidity environment; such as a cool, dry basement.

Tip: If you like roasted or baked pumpkin seeds, you can save the seeds from any pumpkin!

To make a pumpkin pie!

Then you need a small, sweet type of pumpkin that has been developed for eating. They are smaller, typically about 8" to 10" diameter. The meat is much less stringy and smoother than a decorative pumpkin variety. Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A and potassium. One-half cup of cooked pumpkin provides more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. One cup of cooked pumpkin contains only 81 calories. It's low in fat and sodium! Usually you can get these at the grocery store, and some of the pumpkin patches and farm stands have them. Be sure to tell them that you intend to use it for a pumpkin pie. Again, look for firm, no soft spots, or signs of any rot. See this page for easy, illustrated directions to make a pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin!

Varieties of Pumpkins

• Sugar - Excellent for baking
• Jack O'Lantern - most common for carving
• White Lumina - unusual, medium-sized white pumpkin
• Mini - Great for decoration
• Gourds - Many varieties, used for decorations

For a very complete, detailed list of many varieties of pumpkins and where to get the seeds, see this page!

Want to Grow Your Own Pumpkins?

Then see this page!

Halloween Costumes

Here are some of the most popular Halloween costumes for children this year. For more choices, see our Halloween costumes pages.

• Inflatable Riding Dinosaur Costume for Adults - everyone LOVES this costume. It's a hit where ever you go!
• Harry Potter Costume Kids Plush Robe - With a hood, one for each house, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hogwarts
• Wizard Robe Cloak Halloween costume for Kids
• Girl's Sparkle Princess Costume - In pink, for small girls
• Sew your own Halloween Costumes with Patterns from the Singer Sewing Reference Library
• Pizza Costume for Kids - A giant slice of pizza Halloween Costume for Children and Teens
• Easy Halloween Costumes for Children - Miniature patterns for 3 to 12 year old children, just enlarge and use
  

 

 

Find Related Information and Resources Here!

Here's the quick list to related farms for PYO, Honey, Pumpkins, Christmas trees, etc.:

You may find these websites useful!

• Local pick your own farms for apples, strawberries, raspberries, corn, tomatoes, etcr
• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Children's consignment sales
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Christmas Tree Farms and lots
• Road tripping and camping tips, tricks and How-to's
• Fun Factory Tours
• Venues for you event: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Festivals: Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horses: rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed and Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes