Here we are in Halloween season again and zombie costumes are being dusted off, devil outfits spruced up and bat fancy dresses brought out to air.

No doubt you have noticed those little clues to an orange coloured Halloween must-have  sneakily appearing  all over the place.

Local nurseries are filled to the brim;  Supermarkets have piled up displays as big as mountains; Gift stores are full of orange coloured candle holders, lanterns and Trick or Treat bags, all of which celebrate this particular item.

Yes , I’m referring to those big, friendly stalwarts of Halloween,  Pumpkins!

In truth, Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without this jumbo-sized and versatile gourd and this humble vegetable is as much a part of Halloween as dressing up in Halloween Zombie costumes.

Our American friends eat them in pies, we decorate them, carve them and put candles inside, transforming this brightly coloured vegetable into  fantasy-inspiring  Jack-o-Lanterns!

Without doubt,  the pumpkin is the king of versatility, yet so very underrated in our high-tech, modern world.

But how do you make certain that you get just the right pumpkin for your needs?

Selecting just the right pumpkin does require some basic knowledge. First, you’ll need to know what size is right for you and your family but whatever the size of  pumpkin, you want to select a firm specimen.  A certain softness  can  be an indicator that it is too ripe and may already be rotting inside.

How you handle your newly purchased pumpkin is important too.  Although these vegetables seem robust, never use the stem as a carry handle.  Pumpkins are very heavy in relation to their size yet the skin and flesh at the base of the stem can be torn easily. Once damaged, the skin rapidly allows the rotting process to kick in, ruining your pumpkin before you even have chance to carve the first crooked tooth!

In the same way, be sure to avoid scratching or bruising your pumpkin before Halloween. If you are not careful, one little scratch can cause you to notice an unpleasant smell in the air about two days later as decay sets in.

Take care to store your pumpkin in a dry environment.  Moisture encourages the spread of bacteria and growth of mould and your kids will be so very disappointed when they see their eagerly awaited pumpkin carving session turning into a smelly mush fest instead.

Members of the gourd family generally last longer and stay fresher in colder climates, so be sure to keep them away from overheated storage areas.

Many people want an idea of how long their pumpkins will last and it is fair to say that a good rule of thumb is around 2-3 days after carving.  Playing the part in your zombie fancy dress might mean that you are emulating a rotting corpse but there’s no need for your prize pumpkin to join in on the act too.

One last thought – if you are planning to hold your own Halloween party, why not have pumpkin carving contest? They are great fun & you can award an appropriate prize for the most creative pumpkin of the night. Happy Zombie Halloween!