4 Easy Ways to Pick the Perfect Pumpkin for Halloween This Year

There is a better than average chance that at some point, probably out of the blue, inspiration has struck you.  And it generally will have been sitting right there in front you the entire time.

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My writing inspiration is much the same as any of them.  I wander the internet searching for something that might not just interest me, but also you as the reader.  Or, it is my wife, who is sitting right there in front of me wondering why I haven't bought pumpkins to carve yet.

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4 Easy Ways to Pick the Perfect Pumpkin for Halloween This Year

But just like the summertime watermelon, there are certain ways to tell if a pumpkin is "the one" or just a poser in an orange covering.  And before you hit the store or pumpkin patch, make sure you have decided what you are going to do with it.  Decoration or dessert?

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For a Jack o' lantern style, search out larger and more well shaped pumpkins.  They are much easier to carve patterns or just a simple face on.  Smaller and heavier pumpkins are more suited for pies and other recipes.

Color, Maturity and More Can Mean a Better Pumpkin on Your Porch in Montana

If your color isn't a bright or vivid orange, it might be less desirable if you want it to last any amount of time.  The same goes for surface damage which also leads to early decay.  Rich orange color usually denotes a much healthier pumpkin.

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Another quick test for choosing the perfect mature gourd is the "scratching" method.  Simply scratch the surface, if it scratches easily, it might not be ripe or even fully grown.  Mature pumpkins are better when used in pies or other recipes.