By Sirena Van Schaik

When I was younger, I didn’t really think much about finding a pumpkin. The grocery stores sold them so I would just pick up one or two as I was grocery shopping. No problem and really no thought went into my pumpkin hunt. Unfortunately, the pumpkins that I purchased were often flat, misshapen or they had already begun to decay.

What I learned from all of this is that pumpkin hunting is much more enjoyable when you go to a pumpkin patch. Maybe you won’t be like Charlie Brown looking for the “Great Pumpkin” but you will definitely have more fun, especially if you have children helping you.

Buying from a local farm not only provides you with a day trip to build memories with your children, since many farmers who sell pumpkins offer wagon rides and corn mazes, but it also provides you with an opportunity to support local farmers, something that is strongly encouraged and often appreciated.

Once you find a pumpkin patch, take some time strolling through each pumpkin field to find the pumpkin that you are looking for. And what is it that you are looking for in a pumpkin? Well, generally, when you are looking for a pumpkin, you will want to consider four things; the size, the color, the shape, and the condition, so let’s look at these individually.

The Size:

Although everyone would love to have a giant pumpkin as large as their car, chances are you are going to be looking for a smaller pumpkin to carve into a Jack-o-lantern. Generally, medium sized pumpkins are the ideal size for carving but anything from medium to large can also be used.

The main point of size is to find one that has enough room for the design you have in mind. If you are going for a simple face, than just about anything will work but if you are looking at carving a more elaborate Jack-o-Lantern, then you will want more surface to work with.

Another point about size is to look at the actual size of the top. A pumpkin with a small area on the top may make it difficult when you are trying to clean out the pumpkin. If your hand won’t fit inside the pumpkin, chances are it may be a little too small.

Lastly, if you are purchasing a pumpkin for pies or other little Halloween desserts, you should look for smaller pumpkins. Generally, the pumpkins that you use will be smaller, around 8 to 10 inches in diameter and will be specifically grown for cooking. Of course, small pumpkins can be painted up to make some pretty cute Jack-o-Lanterns.

The Color:

Well, a pumpkin should be orange, right? Right. If we look at just the simple color of a pumpkin, there really isn’t much to look at but there are a few things that you should be aware of.

Pumpkins, like all fruit, are not ripe for a period of time. This means, that a pumpkin can be sold while it still has green spots on it. This may or may not be a problem, depending on what you are looking for, but generally, pumpkins will not ripen enough to produce a fully orange pumpkin once it has been picked. If you bring home a green pumpkin a few days before Halloween, chances are you will be putting out a green Jack-o-Lantern.

Another factor that you should take into the color of the pumpkin are any brown spots. This could mean mold and decay on your pumpkin, which could leave those pumpkin seeds inedible. Once mold has started in your pumpkin, it will spread quickly and you may end up with a rotten pumpkin on Halloween night.

After that, it is simply a matter of preference over which shade of orange you would like to have.

The Shape:

Shape is another preference matter and you can find pumpkins in almost any shape. There are squat round ones and tall and almost flat. Many pumpkins will have one flat side from lying on the ground but you can easily turn it or use the flat surface in your design when you get ready to carve.

With shape, as with size, the type of pumpkin you choose will depend on your use. Round pumpkins are better to use when you create a classic pumpkin face, flatter ones will allow you to make more elaborate designs but again, you can do this on any shape.

The Condition:

This is the biggest point to make about pumpkin hunting. The overall condition of a pumpkin is very important and you should make sure that your pumpkin does not have any soft spots on it. Soft spots often mean rot, which is the Jack-o-Lantern’s worst enemy. Pumpkins should be hard and the skin should not easily dent or scratch.

Also, pumpkins should be free of any cracks, holes or splits. Many insects and rot thrive in those holes and cracks and it is often an indicator that the pumpkin has one or both of these problems.

Lastly, try to make sure that your pumpkin has a stem. This is more for aesthetics but it does help with the overall appearance of the finished pumpkin.

And there are a few guidelines on helping you find an excellent pumpkin. The only other tips that I would recommend is to wear an old pair of boots, bring a wagon to the pumpkin patch and simply enjoy the memories you will be creating.

Related posts:

1. Secrets to a Perfect Jack-o-Lantern

Tags: finding a pumpkin, Jack-o-Lanterns, picking a pumpkin, Pumpkins

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