Don't Carve Pumpkins Before This Date If You Want Them to Look Good on Halloween

You've likely got your pumpkin carving skills down to a science, but you might not be aware that there is a perfect time to carve a pumpkin—and it's sadly not the exact moment October rolls around.

Carving creepy faces and glowing cats certainly wins the award for the best Halloween activity in our books, but there is some magic in waiting closer to the holiday before you create this year's carved masterpiece.

We spoke to a master gardener to understand the best time to carve a pumpkin and how to keep your jack-o'-lanterns fresher longer.

When Should You Carve Pumpkins for Halloween?

In cooler climates, pumpkins carved one to two weeks before Halloween will typically last through the holiday, especially if kept outdoors in a cool place, she says. If you live in a warmer location, she notes you should hold off on carving until a few days before Halloween.

While you may be tempted to grab your design and carving supplies the second your pumpkin comes home, there's a benefit in holding off, according to master gardener Mary Jane Duford.

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3 Reasons to Wait Before Carving Your Pumpkin

Duford has grown over two dozen types of pumpkin varieties and is very familiar with how they react to external factors and their timeline for sagging and rotting—which isn't long. Knowing your climate is especially important if you keep jack-o'-lanterns on the porch or backyard.

Anyone—whether you're an adult or child—excited about Halloween knows it's hard to put off the fun parts, but here are a few perks of keeping your pumpkin whole and cool until then:

• Your pumpkin won't rot as quickly: If you get ahead of yourself with carving, you'll likely run into "early rot and decay, especially in warmer weather," according to Duford, which isn't pretty.
• You avoid bacteria and mold: When you open up a pumpkin and carve out a design, the flesh is exposed, which Duford notes is more susceptible to mold and bacteria. You can avoid an early downfall by not exposing your pumpkin's insides for as long as possible.
• Your pumpkin will stay moist: The second worst thing after a moldy, rotten pumpkin is a shriveled-up and dried-out gourd. With a longer time exposed to air, your pumpkin can dry out more quickly.
• Your Halloween decorations will stay fresher: For the best display, you want pumpkins that aren't losing their shape and sagging into your porch. Many bugs and critters love pumpkins, too. So if they sense rotting gourds, you'll likely have to put up with some visitors who aren't looking to eat candy, but rather your holiday display.

Duford points out that there is one reason why you wouldn't want to wait.

"Sometimes the decayed look is a feature, so take that into account if you’re looking for a spooky, decrepit design," she says.

4 Tips to Prevent Your Pumpkin from Rotting

Aside from waiting three to 10 days before Halloween, there are a few other tricks you can implement to stop your pumpkin rotting and avoid an early death for your carved creations. Duford suggests the following:

• Keep cut surfaces clean. The portions of your pumpkin that you've sliced and carved should be coated in a disinfectant. Duford says using bleach or similar will help kill bacteria.
• Seal it up. You can brush clear polyurethane, vegetable oil, or petroleum jelly onto your pumpkin to slow the rotting process. Just make sure to wear gloves!
• Avoid real candles. Duford says heat sources can speed up the rotting process, and instead suggests using LED lights. If you love the look of a candle, opt for faux versions that flicker but have no flame.
• Keep them cool. Duford recommends keeping your pumpkins in a covered or shady area outside, as this keeps them protected from hot sun and fluctuating temperatures that'll lead to a sad, soggy pumpkin sooner rather than later.