Pumpkin Patch Picking Tips

• First determine the usage:

- Will it be for decoration, carving, eating?

• Size the pumpkin to enhance your planned design
• Pick a shape to match your design
-Now there are a variety of shapes – flat, round, small, large

• Select an appropriate color:
- Orange, red, green ,white, green, multicolor

• Check for quality of pumpkin:
- Make sure it has no mold, soft spots or cracks (bruises and dents creates mold faster)
- When transporting home from the pumpkin patch, wrap in a blanket to prevent bruising.

• Don't worry if your orange pumpkin is still a bit green; it will ripen!

Varieties of Pumpkins:

• Jack O'Lantern - Most common for carving
• White Lumina - Unusual, medium-sized white pumpkin (sometimes called a Ghost pumpkin)
• Cinderella – Flat pumpkin, used for stacking, becoming more popular
• Mini - Great for decoration
• Sugar - Excellent for baking
• Gourds - Many varieties, used for decorations

Caring for pumpkins at home:

• Keep pumpkin dry
• Keep pumpkin away from heat (use an electric LED candle instead of a candle)
• Carved pumpkins last 3-5 days

Pumpkin Carving Techniques:

• Pumpkins with a flatter bottom will stand more upright
• Softer pumpkins are easier to carve, but won't last as long
• If you carve too much of the pumpkin, use a toothpick to hold together
• Use kid-friendly tools
• Make sure to properly cut out the top of the pumpkin
• Carving a large pumpkin can take up to four hours

Pumpkin Trends:

• Stacking pumpkins, using the "Cinderella" variety:
- Cinderella pumpkins are deep red to orange, flattened, and deeply ribbed
- Excellent for decor they are difficult to carve.
- Good for stacking
- Semi-sweet flesh is good for pies.
- Keep very well

• Using patterns for etched pumpkins
• Illumination trends departing from traditional candles to battery operated LEDs

- Helps keep pumpkin dry
- Slows down mold process
- Safer to use

• Using Kid-safe tools/carving sets

- Martha Stewart, Pumpkin Masters, etc.

Michigan Pumpkin Patches

Here are some Michigan Pumpkin Patches that are an easy drive from the Chicago area:

• Gary Crane Farm - Pumpkins, gourds, squash, Indian corn and gourd art 6017 124th Ave, Fennville, Michigan 49408 (www.cranesupick.com)
• Overhiser Orchards - Pumpkin patch: pick in the field, or pick up ones already gathered, corn maze, child-sized hay-bale maze 6317-107th Ave. South Haven, MI 49090 (www.overhiserorchards.com)
• Jollay Orchards – Pumpkins, Haunted House, farmers market 1850 Friday Rd., Coloma, MI 49038 (www.jollayorchards.com)
• Stephenson Farms - Pumpkins 6783 Baseline Rd. South Haven, MI 49090

To plan your next Michigan fall weekend getaway to a pumpkin patch, check out www.michigan.org/pumpkins .