Picking the Perfect Halloween Pumpkin

When it comes to getting the right pumpkin for your Halloween festivities, there are several things you have to keep in mind. The first thing is what you'll be using the pumpkin for, because there are different kinds of pumpkins. They have different uses, and if you don't get the right kind you might not get the results you're hoping for.

For example, pumpkin pies are made from a specific kind of pumpkin. When you find them in the stores they usually say that they are for baking or cooking, and many of them have stickers that offer a pumpkin pie recipe. More people use them around Thanksgiving and Christmas when they bake their holiday pies, but that doesn't mean they can't be used sooner. Some people like to start on those pumpkin pies just as soon as cooler weather appears and the leaves start to turn.

For people who're looking to carve Halloween pumpkins, larger ones are best. There are many carving kits that can be bought today, and they actually work very well to make shapes and designs, as well as creatures and scary characters. They take some time and effort, though, and shouldn't be used by small children who could get hurt.

When you buy a large Halloween pumpkin (or several) to use for carving purposes, keep two things in mind. First, the pumpkin should be firm, healthy, and free of obvious disease. Second, as soon as you cut into it, it will start to decay. If you want it to be around and looking great for Halloween night, you won't want to carve it more than a couple of days in advance. Some carved Halloween pumpkins will last longer than others, but you can't expect any of them to last for weeks.

If you're just looking for Halloween pumpkins or other gourds for decoration, you also have some choices. Big pumpkins work well for outside decorations. You see them a lot with hay bales and creepy, costumed mannequins or scarecrows. Smaller pumpkins are better inside the house. They can make great decorations as a centerpiece for a table or something to put on top of the fireplace mantle.

If you want to reuse your decorations each year there are plastic and ceramic pumpkins available, but they don't have the same feeling as the pumpkins you can go out and buy each year with your family or friends. Part of getting the right Halloween pumpkin is in the experience of finding it and bringing it home in the crisp, fall air.

Don't forget to roast the pumpkin seeds! They can make a great treat to snack on, and they're healthy, as well.