What can I do with pumpkins after Halloween?

Lyle W EXPERT October 31, 2009

In some situations, you can use the pumpkins for Fall decorations until Thanksgiving. You may be able to turn the pumpkins around so that the carved or marked face is not showing. Add miniature hay bales and Fall flowers to create a Harvest display.

If the pumpkins are carved, you will not be able to use them to cook anything. You can add them to your compost heap or bury them in your garden. They will decompose quickly and fertilize the garden or flower beds.

Pumpkins make good feed for most animals.

If the pumpkins are not carved, you can use them for pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread. You can roast the seeds and eat them. You can wash and dry some of the seed and then plant them next year.

homeowner1 October 31, 2009

The suggestion to bury them as fertilizer (since we carve every pumpkin!) is awesome! I just hope that they survive the local high school kid shenanigans...although maybe smashed pumpkins will be easier to bury anyway.

PHILGT40 November 01, 2009

IF YOU HAVE ANY SQUIRRELS IN YOUR YARD, THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SEEDS INSIDE! IF THEY ARE WHOLE, JUST CUT A HOLE IN THE TOP, TAKE THE LID OFF AND SET OUT IN THE YARD FOR SOME SQUIRREL WATCHING FUN! THEY WILL LITERALLY CLIMB INSIDE THE PUMPKIN! THE REST CAN BE COMPOSTED,OR USED AS FERTILIZER, IT WILL BREAKDOWN AND DISSOLVE INTO THE GROUND.

homeowner1 November 03, 2009

PHILGT40...love the idea of the squirrel entertainment, but what can I do to keep the squirrels out of places I don't want them to hang out? Am afraid that the pumpkins will encourage them to explore other places in my yard (particularly the garage :-)

j24788755 October 16, 2010

you could cut off the outer skin and take out all the seeds (you can dry these birds would love them or save to replant next year) then cut up the rest and put in big pot and cover with water and boil down until soft then put in food processor and mash this is fresh pumpkin now you can make pies, cake, cookies or bread. its a little different tasting than canned pumpkin but its really good and good for you too.

Anne October 20, 2010

Instead of cutting off the skin I cut the pumpkin in half, take out all of the seeds and put on a baking dish, rounded side up, with a small amount of water. Put in 300 degree oven and cook until tender at least an hour for a large pumpkin. Scoop out cooked pumpkin and put in food processor use for all kinds of cooking. I even add it to soup. It gives it a nice texture and color and my family is unaware of the extra vitamins they are getting!

EvelynC October 26, 2010

I love all the wonderful ideas. When my sons were younger we always had a pumpkin for each of them to decorate for Halloween. We had them paint on fun faces, not scary and did not carve. Then the pumpkins could be prepared much earlier and lasted for weeks. We would bring them inside when extreme weather conditions threatened. We eventually peeled the pumpkins, cleaned and prepared the seeds and cooked down the pumpkin. The seeds were for snacking or sometimes shared with the birds (unsalted). The pumpkin was used to bake muffins, bread and if enough was left for pies for Thanksgiving. They loved eating their Halloween pumpkins for weeks.