# punkin question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 30, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punkin-question/204739 "2003-09-30T18:19:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punkin-question/204739/1 "2003-09-30T18:19:38Z")
If I buy a pumpkin NOW but wait to carve it into a jack-o-lantern until shortly before Halloween, will it still be good? Or should I wait to buy one later? Have they all basically been harvested already? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punkin-question/204739/2 "2003-09-30T18:54:15Z")
They keep well and refrigerating would extend the life considerably. A month is probably a bit long. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punkin-question/204739/3 "2003-09-30T18:54:55Z")
Yes, they’ve mostly all been harvested. (They’ll start cutting Christmas trees any day now. . .) Pumpkins, like winter squash, store quite well if they’re kept in cool dry places. If you’re in a cool location and you don’t cut it, it’ll probably keep. Closer to Halloween most of the good ones will be picked over. ---
**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punkin-question/204739/4 "2003-10-01T00:04:15Z")
Yes, I fear that closer to Halloween will see the best ones gone. Where I live is hardly dry or cool: its North Carolina, hot and muggy central. ---
**Author:** ![WhetherMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8e7dd6/32.png) [@WhetherMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhetherMan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punkin-question/204739/5 "2003-10-01T00:14:47Z")
Why not purchase one now and give it a try? I’m guessing that it is probably a bit too early in your part of town, but there’s nothing like getting into the spirit at the beginning of October. If it turns out to be a bust, I’m sure it will be easy enough to get another one closer to Halloween. Oooo…Halloween…I love Halloween. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punkin-question/204739/6 "2003-10-01T00:14:51Z")
Isn’t it best to keep them in a cool dark place? Like in a paper bag in the basement? ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punkin-question/204739/7 "2003-10-01T00:17:22Z")
So they’re actually selling pumpkins now in North Carolina? It seems unusual that they’d be selling them now if they won’t keep until Halloween. Unless a lot of folks down there bake pies. Here in Massachusetts they’re just starting to show up at the farm stands. We’re expecting temps in the 40s (F) this week. You could try the refrigerator, but unless you’ve got a big fridge or a small pumpkin, you’ll have to cut down on groceries for a while.