decorating pumpkins Archives - Falcon Ridge Farm

Best Cooking Pumpkins

Pumpkin Eats

It’s Fall and most of us are busting out our crockpots and casserole dishes to start serving up that cold-weather comfort food! Pumpkins aren’t just for pumpkin pie. You can make wonderful stews, souffle, curry, and more! Here are some great pumpkin varieties

Pumpkin Varieties
We’re going to bypass the big carving pumpkins (think Jack-O-Lanterns) all together as they are the worst pumpkins for cooking. Their meat is very stringy and their flavor is extremely bland. Instead, go for varieties that are sweet, uber flavorful, and have a smoother flesh. Look for pumpkins that are labeled as ‘sugar pumpkins’ or ‘pie pumpkins’. We grow several varieties of cooking pumpkins including Long Island Cheese, Cinderella, and Jarrahdale.

Pumpkin Size
The best cooking pumpkins should be between 4-8 pounds. Be sure to check for bruising or spots as this can be a sign of rot.

Storage
Keep your pumpkins longer by placing them in a cool temperature. When stored properly, pumpkins can last up to 90 days! You could be making pumpkin pies well past Christmas!

We look forward to seeing y’all here at the farm for loads of Fall fun!

Get Crafty!

Get Crafty!

Painting pumpkins instead of carving them has several perks. For one, painted pumpkins last way longer than carved ones do. You don’t have to worry about the kids hurting themselves with sharp objects. Also, you can be as creative as you want to be with glitter, stickers, or whatever else your inner Picasso craves!

Picking the Right Pumpkin
The perfect painting pumpkin has a smooth, even surface. Be sure to choose one without bruises, scratches, and lumps. We have Early Kings and Gladiators if you want BIG pumpkins. We also have Munchkins if you want tiny pumpkins for your tiny toddlers. If lumpy is what you’re going for, we have Warty Goblins which look really cool!

A Good Cleaning
To clean your pumpkin, you can use a damp cloth or paper towel to gently remove the dirt and grime. Avoid using items like rough kitchen scrubbers as these can damage your pumpkin’s skin. Use a soft cloth to thoroughly dry your pumpkin and be sure to keep the stem area dry. A wet stem or blossom (the bottom of your pumpkin) can cause your pumpkin to rot.

Let Your Fancy Flow!
When it comes to pumpkin painting, the creative options endless! Stencils, markers and stickers are easy options for younger kids.

Pumpkin Painting Tools
Acrylic paint is a great option for painting pumpkins as it dries quickly and allows you to paint over the first layer in a short time period. Go-to painting tools include cheap paint brushes, cotton swabs, sponges, and cotton balls.

Mom Tip: Put down a cheap vinyl table cloth or some newspapers to protect your furniture from paint spills.

Gussy ’em Up!
Make your pumpkin shine with fun embellishments like glitter, sequins, pom poms, or rhinestones. Add googly eyes to create faces! Incorporate glow-in-the-dark paint to make your pumpkin stand out at night!

Check out our Pinterest boards for creative inspiration!

We look forward to seeing you here at the farm for all of our Fall fun!