8 Ways to Reuse/Recycle Pumpkins After Halloween
- Compost your pumpkin. Pumpkins are 90 percent water, meaning they break down quickly.
- Make a pumpkin planter.
- Make a pumpkin feeder.
- Leave pumpkin seeds for wildlife.
- Plant pumpkin seeds.
- Cut into pieces for wildlife.
- Roast pumpkin seeds.
- Make pumpkin serving bowls.
What do you do with uncarved pumpkins after Halloween?
Add them to a compost pile
If you leave the seeds inside the pumpkin, new pumpkins may begin to grow within your compost pile. A blemish-free, uncarved pumpkin could last for months before it begins to break down.
What do I do with my old pumpkin?
Here are some eco-friendly things you can do with your old Halloween pumpkin to help keep them out of landfills.
- Compost it.
- Bury it.
- Leave it for wildlife.
- Feed it to chickens.
- Harvest the seeds.
- Make pumpkin puree.
- Make a pumpkin planter.
- Keep it a little longer.
What should I do with my Halloween pumpkins?
14 delicious uses for Halloween pumpkins
- Roasted pumpkin seeds.
- Make pumpkin puree.
- Pickled pumpkin rinds.
- Bake a pumpkin pie.
- Make your own pumpkin spice latte.
- Make pumpkin chili.
- Dehydrate your own pumpkin pie leather.
- Bake some pumpkin bread or muffins.
How long do pumpkins last Uncarved?
If you keep uncarved pumpkins out of the hot sun or freezing weather, you can expect them to last two to three months. As to carved pumpkins, they can last as little as a few days, so keep that in mind if you want to display your carved masterpiece on Halloween night.
Do birds and squirrels eat pumpkin?
Birds will feed on the flesh pumpkins in addition to the seeds, as will squirrels, foxes, deer and other mammals–the porcupine in the video below doesn’t even need it cut into pieces!
How do I keep my uncut pumpkin from rotting?
Let your pumpkin dry completely, then choose one of the options below to keep it fresh:
- Spray daily with a bleach solution (use ratio above)
- Spray daily with a pumpkin spray (either store bought or homemade)
- Spray with WD-40 (just once or after each soak)
- Rub with petroleum jelly (just once or after each soak)
Is it OK to throw pumpkins in the woods?
Tossing your pumpkins into a forest preserve after Halloween is not only a bad idea, in terms of how it affects wildlife, it’s also illegal and you could be ticketed. The best alternative is to compost your pumpkins, which also keeps them out of the landfills.
Should you put pumpkins out for wildlife?
Pumpkins are not natural to the woodland and while some wildlife may enjoy a tasty snack it can make others, such as hedgehogs, very poorly. “Feeding pumpkins, or any other food in the forest, to birds, foxes, badgers, deer, and boar can make them unwell and can spread disease.
Where do you put pumpkins after Halloween?
There are plenty of creative things you can do to make the most of your Halloween pumpkins.
- Turn it into a bird feeder.
- Toast the seeds for a delicious snack.
- Grow next year’s crop.
- Bake seasonal treats.
- Spice up a latte.
- Leave it out for wildlife to eat.
- Turn your pumpkin into a planter.
- Add them to your compost bin.
Are pumpkins OK for deer to eat?
Research shows that pumpkins are healthy fruits for deer. Nutrients include rich fiber content, Vitamin C, and Potassium. These contents help keep deer healthy.
How long do pumpkins last after Halloween?
Pumpkins last eight to 12 weeks after they are picked, so it’ll stay fresh once you pick it up. It’s only after you carve it that the clock starts ticking.
How do you not waste a pumpkin?
Use the stringy parts of your pumpkin which aren’t normally eaten to make a vegetable stock. Cook them in a little olive oil, then add other vegetable scraps such as carrot tops and onion scraps with water and seasonings.
How long will pumpkins last on porch?
two to three months
You can leave an uncarved pumpkin on a porch for two to three months before it begins to rot as long as they are protected from extreme heat or cold. If leaving a pumpkin on a porch, make sure that it is covered and protected from rain, and placed in an area with good air circulation.
What to put on pumpkin to keep from rotting?
4 Ways to Preserve a Carved Pumpkin
- Coat the carved parts with Vaseline (petroleum jelly).
- After carving, wipe down all surfaces of the pumpkin with a vinegar-water solution (1 part vinegar to 1 part water) to kill bacteria and fungal spores.
- Place a packet of silica gel inside the pumpkin to absorb moisture.
Should you keep pumpkins off the ground?
Sometimes you can prevent rot with environmental controls, such as gently lifting pumpkins off the soil when they’re small and placing them on a clay pot, straw, mulch, or a piece of landscape fabric.
What animals eat pumpkins at night?
Squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and even deer have been known to chomp down on these fall fruits! Nothing is worse than carving your perfect pumpkin, only to find it’s become a midnight snack for your natural neighbors.
Can I leave pumpkins outside?
If you plan on keeping your pumpkins outside, be sure to place them in a dry, shaded spot—like a covered porch—for the entire season. Too much hot sun will speed up a pumpkin’s decaying process, as will rain. Moisture from rain can lead to mold and mush, which no one wants on their beautiful pumpkins!
What do you do with pumpkins after Thanksgiving?
Create Compost
Pumpkin composting is pretty simple. Just remember to remove the seeds first so your gourds don’t root in the pile. If you’d like, you can save them to try your hand at growing your own pumpkins next year. Just rinse the pulp away from the seeds and allow the seeds to dry.
Do uncarved pumpkins attract bugs?
There are some things you can do to decorate and reduce the likelihood of attracting pests. Leave pumpkins uncarved. This will maintain their freshness longer and keep bugs and rodents away from the interior flesh.
Will pumpkins rot on the ground?
Pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) and related vegetable plants, such as cucumbers and squash, are all susceptible to a number of soil-borne pathogens that can cause pumpkins on the vine to rot. Pumpkins rotting on a vine may also be the result of environmental conditions or a lack of pollination.