Gardener says pumpkins can last longer if you use one household item

Worried your Halloween pumpkins might not last until the ghostly celebrations?

A gardening guru has a nifty tip to keep your pumpkins in top shape well past October 31. With All Hallows’ Eve just around the corner and today (October 26) marking National Pumpkin Day, it’s the perfect time for some pumpkin preservation advice.

Gardener Michael (@themediterraneangardener) took to TikTok to share his secret for a “longer display” for your Halloween pumpkins. “Whether you picked it from a pumpkin patch or a supermarket, give it a good wash – you can do this with normal washing up liquid,” he instructs.

He then advises: “Next, dry it off and mix one tablespoon of bleach with one litre of water – I put mine in a spray bottle. If you’re going to carve your pumpkin, do that now – cover your carved or uncarved pumpkin.”

Michael adds, “If it’s [already] carved, spray the inside and carved edges as well – this gets rid of mould, mildew and other unwanted stuff. It’ll keep your pumpkin looking fresh that little bit longer.”

In his video caption, Michael also delves into the science behind his method. “I’d always encourage people to use the flesh and seeds first when carving pumpkins first, do this after,” he penned.

“If you’re concerned about using a bleach solution – the solution will break down rapidly when exposed to the elements, turning into salt and water meaning there is nothing harmful left over.”

He further added: “If you’re putting your pumpkin outside and you’re worried an animal might eat it, wait until the solution has dried on the pumpkin. This way the bleach will have done its work and then will have broken down into salt and water.”

One animal lover, concerned about the safety of wildlife eating the bleached pumpkins, asked for clarification.

“The bleach solution breaks down into salt and water once dried so it’ll be fine – just a little saltier,” Michael explained before other TikTok users questioned the safety of bleach, suggesting vinegar as an alternative.

However, Michael highlighted the disinfectant property in bleach that makes it more effective. “Vinegar is a great cleaner, but its not a disinfectant, which is what you need for this job,” he disclosed.