The candy is counted, the costumes are in the laundry, and the porch is still full of pumpkins. Now what? The answer depends on which pumpkins you are looking at. A carved jack-o-lantern and a whole pumpkin that was never cut are two very different things the morning after Halloween.
Sort them first
Start by walking the porch and splitting your pumpkins into three groups: carved pumpkins, whole pumpkins that are still firm, and anything soft, leaking or moldy. Press gently around the bottom of each one, since that is where trouble usually starts. Our post on why pumpkins rot from the bottom explains what to look for.
Carved pumpkins: retire them
A carved pumpkin has had its insides open to the air for days, and it is near the end of its life. Do not plan on cooking it. Oklahoma State University Extension says that once a carved pumpkin has sat at room temperature for several hours or days, the flesh is not safe to eat. University of Arkansas extension agents also advise against eating jack-o-lantern pumpkins once they have been carved and set out.
Carved pumpkins can still be useful. They can go in the compost or be broken up in the garden, which is covered below.
Whole pumpkins: keep enjoying them
A firm, uncarved pumpkin is not finished just because Halloween is. Healthy whole pumpkins can last about 8 to 12 weeks, so many of them will look good well into November. West Virginia University experts note that if the skin is intact, a pumpkin may stay edible for months.
Keep them on the porch for a Thanksgiving look, or move a few to a cool, dry spot. University of Illinois Extension says a pumpkin can be stored in a cool, dark place for about two months. Keep in mind that big carving pumpkins are grown for looks, not flavor. Illinois Extension notes that pumpkins sold for carving are not designed to be eaten, so if you want to cook, a small pie pumpkin is the better choice.
Compost what you can
Composting is one of the best ways to send pumpkins off. Oklahoma State University Extension says carved pumpkins can be composted, or broken up and scattered in a garden or landscape bed, and that cutting them into smaller pieces helps them break down faster. A WVU Extension agent gives the same tip about chopping them up.
Before anything goes in the compost, remove candles, battery lights, wax, wire and other non-food items. WVU experts specifically mention removing batteries and light bulbs first.
Be careful with painted or decorated pumpkins
Virginia Cooperative Extension notes that pumpkins can be composted or fed to livestock or wildlife only if no toxic decorative materials were used. WVU experts add that painted pumpkins should not be fed to animals unless they are peeled. If a pumpkin is covered in glitter, glue or heavy paint, the simplest choice is to put it out with the trash.
Wildlife and farm animals
Some people leave plain, undecorated pumpkins in the back of the yard for wildlife. A University of Illinois Extension educator suggests just that, and notes that squirrels will dig in for the seeds and that by spring only flattened shells are usually left. If you would rather not invite more squirrels toward the house, keep any leftover pumpkins well away from your porch. Our post on keeping squirrels away from your pumpkins has more on that.
WVU experts also note that some local farms, zoos or animal shelters may accept fresh pumpkins as animal feed. Call ahead and ask what they can take before you drop anything off.
A simple plan for the week after Halloween
Pull carved pumpkins and anything soft. Compost or toss them, depending on how they were decorated. Keep the firm whole pumpkins, check their bottoms once a week, and enjoy them a while longer. A porch with a few whole pumpkins, a hay bale and some gourds still looks like fall long after the trick-or-treaters are gone.
Questions about your pumpkins?
If you have a pumpkin question we did not cover here, we would be glad to help. Call or text us at (513) 409-0005, or send a message through our contact page. We are a family-run business right here in the Springboro, Dayton and Cincinnati area, and we are always happy to talk pumpkins.