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My tips for keeping pumpkins mold free will extend the life of your festive decorations, allowing them to stay vibrant and fresh for weeks. With simple, natural methods, you’ll prevent unsightly mold, shriveling, and rot, preserving your pumpkins both indoors and outdoors.
Whether you’re using them for Halloween or fall decor, these tips ensure your pumpkins look their best throughout the season, saving you time and effort. Easy to follow and highly effective, these tips are the secret to enjoying beautiful pumpkins long after they’re carved or displayed.
My Instagram page highlights more about keeping pumpkins mold free! Be sure to check it out!
❤️ Why You’ll Love Keeping Pumpkins Mold Free
You’ll love keeping pumpkins mold free so they last longer! I put a lot of work into planning and creating seasonal decor. And when I am finally done, I want to enjoy the work for a while!
My tips and tricks for keeping pumpkins mold free will keep the inside and outside of your home warm, cozy and happy!
🧽 Materials for Keeping Pumpkins Mold Free
Why cinnamon? Cinnamon doesn’t only scare away ants, but also cockroaches, spiders, fruit flies, rats, wasps, earwigs, silverfish, mosquitoes, and even bed bugs.
Cinnamon acts as a natural repellent because the bugs cannot stand the smell. Also, if a bug inhales cinnamon, it can suffocate.
🧼 How to Do
Why peppermint? The peppermint (just like the cinnamon) irritates the squirrel’s nasal passages. So this is for our larger pest friends to stay away!
🪄 Tips and Tricks
After the pumpkins start to decompose, I will compost them!
First, I cut the pumpkin into smaller the pieces. They will decompose more quickly. I use a knife or shovel to break the pumpkin into manageable chunks. Smaller pieces increase the surface area and allow microorganisms to break down the pumpkin more efficiently.
While pumpkin seeds can compost, they may sprout if left in the pile. If you don’t want pumpkins growing in your compost, you can remove the seeds and roast them, plant them, or dispose of them separately.
Pumpkins are rich in nitrogen (“green” material). To keep my compost balanced, I layer the pumpkin pieces with carbon-rich materials (“browns”) like dried leaves, straw, or newspaper. This will help maintain a good carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, which is important for efficient composting.
I bury the pumpkin pieces about 6 to 12 inches into the compost pile to help them break down faster and to avoid attracting pests.
To speed up decomposition, I regularly turn the compost pile to aerate it. This introduces oxygen, which helps the organic matter break down more quickly. If the pile is kept moist and well-aerated, the pumpkin will decompose in a matter of weeks to a few months.
🫙 How to Store
I select pumpkins that are firm with no soft spots, cracks, or signs of rot. The skin should be tough and free from blemishes, as damaged pumpkins will spoil faster.
I try to place pumpkins in a cool location, ideally between 50°F and 60°F (10°C to 15°C). Warmer temperatures can speed up decay, while freezing temperatures can damage the pumpkin.
I try to keep the pumpkins in a dry environment with low humidity to prevent mold growth. And I avoid damp basements or outdoor areas that might be exposed to moisture.
I also ensure that the pumpkins are stored in a well-ventilated space. Stacking them or placing them on the floor can cause moisture to get trapped and lead to rot. Instead, place them on racks, shelves, or wooden pallets where air can circulate around them.
When possible, I avoid direct contact with the ground or any hard surfaces. I place pumpkins on a layer of straw, cardboard, or newspaper to provide cushioning and help prevent bruising or moisture buildup.
I also periodically inspect your stored pumpkins for soft spots, mold, or other signs of decay. And I will remove any pumpkins that are starting to rot to prevent them from affecting the others.
🤔 Common Questions
Uncarved pumpkins can last anywhere from 1 to 3 months if kept in a cool, dry place. Carved pumpkins, however, typically last 3-7 days before they start to deteriorate. Environmental conditions like heat and moisture can speed up the decay process.
Small decorative pumpkins like mini pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, and white pumpkins (luminas) are popular choices for tabletop displays and centerpieces. Larger pumpkins like jack-o’-lantern pumpkins or cinderella pumpkins work well for porch or yard displays.
To keep animals like squirrels and deer from nibbling on your pumpkins, you can spray them with a mixture of water and hot sauce, vinegar, or use commercial animal repellents. Another option is to place the pumpkins near strong-smelling plants like lavender or rosemary, which may deter animals.
Keeping Pumpkins Mold Free
Instructions
Step 1
- Pumpkin bath: For every quart of hot water add one tablespoon of peppermint castile soap. Add peppermint oil (10-15 drops) and 3 cinnamon sticks to the hot water bath. Peppermint has antifungal properties that can help naturally inhibit the growth of mold. Cinnamon pests hate! So this coats them with a bit of it naturally.
Step 2
- Add four cinnamon sticks to 70% rubbing alcohol and let sit for a day. Then spray the pumpkins with it and let dry. Don’t have cinnamon sticks? Mix three tablespoons of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Pure-Castile Soap and 3/4 cup isopropyl rubbing alcohol in a quart bottle, tehn add water to fill it up. Supposed to be a good, general purpose insecticide.
Step 3:
- Extra cautious? Make pest relent bags with 2 Tbsp cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks and some perming oil on top and place near the pumpkins.