By William Terry Kelley
University of
Georgia

What a great time of the year! Truly a time of transition,
October offers something for everyone. There are still warm days,
but fall is making inroads, and football is under way. Crops are
ready to harvest, and yet it’s also time to plant.

In this flurry of change, the orange glint of pumpkins begins to
peek out from under the vines. But harvest time is just the
beginning for these versatile fruits.

Already showing up at grocery stores, nurseries, roadside markets
and in lawns across America, the pumpkin is as much a part of
autumn as the brightly colored leaves.

Pumpkins generally last several weeks after harvest. Of course,
once the pumpkin is carved, it shortens the shelf life to a few
days.

Consider the possibilities

But consider the possibilities. These beautiful fruits come in
all sizes and colors. From white to deep orange, from baseball
size to the size of a compact car, pumpkins fit into your fall
decor in endless ways.

Miniature pumpkins make great tabletop displays. These small
fruits are actually gourds and can last throughout the fall. They
may be from dark orange to variegated. Often they’re coated with
a polyurethane finish to make them look shiny and preserve them
even longer.

These tiny pumpkins can be carved. But beware. They’re mighty
tough, and it takes a really sharp knife and careful work to
carve them and not your fingers. Another option is to hang them
onto small trees like Christmas ornaments to make a pumpkin
tree.

Giant jack-o’-lanterns

Giant pumpkins are great for outdoors. They make quite a
centerpiece for a lawn display. Add a few smaller pumpkins, a
bale of hay and a shock or two of corn stalks, and you’re the
envy of the neighborhood.

These giants range from 60 pounds on up. They’re best moved by
rolling them onto a small tarp with one person picking up each
side. Be prepared to pay a premium price for these wonders of the
pumpkin world.

Then, of course, you have your jack-o’-lantern pumpkins. They may
be round to oblong, 10 to 40 pounds, light to burnt orange and
smooth to heavily ribbed.

If you get them early in the season, you’re more likely to get
exactly the shape and size you want. Shopping early gives you the
chance, too, to display the pumpkin for quite a while before you
carve it for Halloween.

Carving kits

Speaking of carving, many available kits now make carving a true
art. The standard triangle eyes and jagged teeth are still fine,
but even the novice can produce elaborate designs with the right
patterns and tools. Carving kits usually come with both. From
witches to ghosts to presidential busts, pumpkin carving can take
many forms.

Giant pumpkins are great for sculpting large designs, but they,
too, are hard to cut. The shape and size of the pumpkin used for
carving will depend on your design.

Original designs can easily be transferred to the pumpkin by
drawing it on paper, taping it to the pumpkin and then taking a
toothpick to punch dots along the design to guide your carving
instruments.

Preserve your creation by placing a damp towel over it when not
on display. This may allow it to last a few more days. There’s no
end to the decorative possibilities with pumpkins.