Households across the UK are being urged to squeeze lemon juice on pumpkins this Halloween to deter pests and delay rotting.
Halloween may still be a week away but the spooky day has grown in popularity in recent years which means many households start getting into the festivities early. Carving pumpkins is one of the most popular ways to mark Halloween and it supposedly wards off evil spirits. The tradition of pumpkin carving is thought to have originated in Ireland with the legend of Stingy Jack. According to Irish folklore, Jack was a man who spent a lifetime tricking the Devil into changing his form and as payback, he was forced to forever roam the Earth guided only by a burning coal he placed into a carved-out turnip. People would then carve scary faces into turnips – and later pumpkins, as they were easier to carve – to try and frighten off Jack’s spirit. Now when people put a carved pumpkin outside their house, it is considered a sign that they are taking part in the tradition of handing out sweets for trick-or-treaters.
While pumpkins can last around eight to 12 weeks after being picked, they can quickly start to wilt and rot once they’ve been carved – and attract pests, such as rats, mice, insects and squirrels.
To help avoid this problem, experts recommend squeezing some lemon juice onto pumpkins and rubbing it across the surface.
Lemon juice essentially acts as a natural preservative, with the citric acid helping to prevent mould and bacteria from growing, while also making the pumpkin less attractive to pests.
It is most effective when applied to the inside of a pumpkin after carving, but it can also be used on the exterior to delay rotting.
Experts at Vulcan Termite and Pest Control explain: “Most jack-o-lanterns begin to rot about a week after carving. You can prolong the life of your jack-o-lantern by treating the outside with lemon juice. Once you’re done carving, rub lemon juice on the outside of the pumpkin.
“The acid in the lemon juice helps maintain the colour, delays rotting and keeps insects away by preventing oxygen from interacting with enzymes in the pumpkin.”
To preserve your pumpkin using lemon juice, experts recommend mixing equal parts of lemon juice and water in a spray bottle.
Then simply spray the mixture all over your pumpkin – inside and out after carving – and this will help your pumpkin to last longer and fend off unwanted pests.
Experts at Stew Leonard’s add: “Mix equal parts lemon juice and water in a spray bottle. Spritz both the inside and outside of your pumpkin after carving. The acidity helps preserve the pumpkin and hardens the skin against wind, rain, and chilly nights.”