Wondering what to do with your pumpkins after October? Don’t let your jack-o’-lanterns go to waste! Try these ideas.
- You Can Eat Most Pumpkins.
- Pass Along Your Pumpkins.
- Feed the Birds.
- Create Compost.
- Play With Your Pumpkins.
- Feed the Wildlife.
What do you do with pumpkins after they fall?
What can you do with pumpkins after Halloween? 6 ideas to get new use out of your pumpkins
- Add them to a compost pile. Pumpkins are mostly made up of nearly 90% water and decompose quickly, making them ideal for composting.
- Holiday decorations.
- Donate them.
- Feed wildlife with your pumpkins.
- Eat them.
- Save the seeds.
What can I do with uncarved pumpkin?
What to do With Those Uncarved Pumpkins!
- Turn the empty pumpkin into a planter by setting a container of mums inside.
- Roast the rinsed, clean pumpkin seeds with some oil and spices for a yummy, healthy treat.
- Cut up your pumpkin and put it in a place away from your house where wildlife can enjoy it.
What do you do with pumpkins in November?
Pumpkins can be used for jack-o-lanterns in October and be served as delicious holiday foods in November. Using pumpkins as a holiday food during the month of November comes from the holiday traditions that pilgrims partook in many years ago.
What do I do with my 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.
Where do you put pumpkins after Halloween?
See if you can donate leftover pumpkins to zoos, animal shelters, farms, or community gardens. They’ll be grateful for the compost material or animal snacks. Look local; some towns do a pumpkin collection drive after Halloween, and some farms put out calls for local pumpkin donations.
How do you get rid of pumpkins after Halloween?
Instead of throwing it in the trash and hundreds of pumpkins ending up in landfills, experts say compositing or burying your pumpkin can be helpful to the Earth. Adding a pumpkin to a compost bin can enrich the soil over time because pumpkins count as organic waste.
How long will an uncarved pumpkin last outside?
two to three months
Uncarved pumpkins can last two to three months if kept out of the hot sun or freezing temperatures. Carved pumpkins may last only a few days, so time your carving accordingly if you want to display them on Halloween.
How do you preserve an uncarved pumpkin?
Alternatively, place the pumpkins in a bucket and soak them in the diluted bleach solution for 20 minutes. Other household products may also be used to help extend the life of an uncarved pumpkin. Spraying them with WD-40 will coat the pumpkins and act like a sealant, keeping bacteria and insects away.
Can you throw pumpkins in the woods?
Let local wildlife have it
One thing you can do with your old jack-o-lantern is actually nothing at all: just leave it someplace in your yard. Local wildlife, like birds and squirrels, will have a nice time chowing down on your old, carved pumpkin.
What do you do with pumpkins after Thanksgiving?
Uncarved pumpkins can last up to 12 weeks before they start to rot. So if your pumpkins are still whole and firm, hang on to them to add to the Thanksgiving dinner table for festive decor. If they’re still going strong after Thanksgiving, give them a coat of red and green paint and keep them around for Christmas!
Are pumpkins still around in November?
Pumpkins In November! Yes, it’s that time of the year again! Pumpkins are a joy to look at and to eat! Pumpkins originate from this continent and were a staple of Native American cuisine.
Can I use my Halloween pumpkin for pie?
Once you’ve roasted the pumpkin you could eat it as a side to roast chicken or a delicious autumn pie. It also mashes well once cooked so can be used as an alternative to mashed potatoes.
Will squirrels eat pumpkins?
Pumpkins are not a squirrel’s favorite food. They eat them because instinct tells them they need to fatten up for the winter. If you give them tastier fare—say, peanuts, sunflower seeds, stale bread, crackers—they’ll have their fill without spilling pumpkin guts all over the yard.
Can Halloween pumpkins be eaten?
It’s easy to forget that Halloween pumpkins are edible. Especially after you’ve carved and field-dressed them, having scraped out their innards and cut faces into them so they become jack-o’-lanterns. I’m not talking about their seeds, which are, of course, a savory and worthwhile snack when roasted and well seasoned.
How long does it take for a pumpkin to decompose?
about 8-12 weeks
Let pumpkin decompose in compost pile.
It will take about 8-12 weeks for the pumpkin pieces to completely break down.
Can I leave my pumpkin outside for animals?
“Squirrels, foxes, badgers and birds all enjoy them, so people could leave chopped up pumpkin outside in dishes for wild animals to eat if they choose. Wildlife can struggle to find food this time of year so some chunks of tasty pumpkin could be very welcome.
What animals will eat pumpkins?
What animals can eat pumpkin?
- Cattle.
- Chickens.
- Ducks.
- Turkey.
- Geese.
- Horses.
- Goats.
- Sheep.
What bin do I put pumpkins in?
If you don’t have a compost bin or a garden, then you can put the pumpkin in your general waste bin.
Can you put whole pumpkins in compost?
Yes, you can compost your entire pumpkin! The skin, meat, stem, guts, and even seeds are compostable. However, pumpkin seeds are quite hardy and will overwinter in your compost pile. If you leave the seeds in, you’re likely to find a few pumpkin plants in your garden next year when you use your compost.
What can I do with leftover pumpkins and gourds?
Zoo and farm animals feast on pumpkins. Do a good deed with your leftovers by calling your local animal sanctuary, zoo, or farm to see if they accept fresh donations.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.