Preserving Pumpkins & Gourds
Prepare a mixture of bleach and water (1 part bleach to 10 parts water)
Let your gourds or pumpkins soak for 15 to 20 minutes
Clean your pumpkins with a wet towel
Dry your pumpkins
It's that simple

Fall is one of our favorite times of the year on the farm because it's time to harvest pumpkins. Hannah and I are obsessed with pumpkins. There are just so many things you can do with them: make a pumpkin bread, decorate your porch and home, and carve or paint them. Today we are talking about preserving them for decorating. Next time we will give you my favorite recipe for pumpkin bread.
First, we filled a metal tub with a mixture of water and bleach. We did a blend of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. We made sure to wear gloves, and we mixed the bleach and water together.

Next, we added the gourds and let them soak for 15 minutes. Once they have soaked, we took a towel and wiped the dirt off of the gourds then rinsed them off. This is important as dirt is what encourages bacteria to grow, and bacteria causes your pumpkin or gourd to soften/rot and not last as long.

Last, we made sure to dry our pumpkins. It is that simple. If you just take a few minutes to do this, your pumpkins will last a lot longer. I have heard some people apply a clear spray or polyurethane to their pumpkin. We do not do this. We sometimes have squirrels nibble on our pumpkins and would not want to hurt them. So make sure if you do spray your pumpkin to keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Now we are ready to get decorating. We have lots of pumpkins and gourds in many colors and sizes at amazing prices at Whitetail Tree Farm. We hope to see you this weekend.

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