Fall is here and pumpkin patches are popping up on corners throughout Central Florida. But you don't want to buy too early, so they'll last until Halloween. However, you don't want to wait until they're all picked over and then you get a bad one. So, how can you tell if you're picking the perfect pumpkin? Here are a few tips from Today, BioAdvanced and Statesman Journal to help!
4 tips on how to choose the perfect pumpkin:
1. Check the pumpkin for soft spots and signs of mold. Don't forget to check underneath too and press on it with your thumbs. If it gives a little, the pumpkin isn't fresh.
2. Pumpkins continue to ripen and will turn more orange in color after they're picked. So, choosing a lighter pumpkin now could give you a perfect, deep-orange one by Halloween.
3. Look for one that has its handle or stem intact and not loose. A dark green stem is a sign it was picked recently, compared to a brown stem.
4. Look for pumpkins with flat walls and no deep ribs because those are better for carving. Skip the tall, oblong pumpkins, which typically have stringier flesh that makes precise cuts difficult.