Knowledge from Olle Garden Bed: What to do with pumpkins after Halloween?
What to do with your pumpkin after Halloween? Do not rush to open the trash can. Even after the 31st, your Jack O lantern can come in handy. The night of ghosts, monsters and candy is over, but the pumpkin is still there. Their hollow, carved eyes follow every step as you stagger to the kitchen to make something similar to breakfast. Weird. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden bed
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Ways to reuse or recycle pumpkins after Halloween
You probably have at least one pumpkin smiling at you in a weird way. You probably won't make a delicious pumpkin pie out of it (especially if it's frozen outside), but there are other non-obvious ways to recycle it.
Carve pumpkins
Make a pumpkin bird feeder
The cutest thing about Jack Orlante decorations is helping your local birds survive the winter.
Cut the pumpkin in half, leaving the bottom half, and scoop out the seeds. Then, use a knife to make a hole in the side of the pumpkin. Put twigs or chopsticks in it to make a perch for the birds. Measure a twine, tie the rope to a perch, and find a sturdy branch to hang the feeder. Fill the feeder with bird seeds and you're done!
Feed the animals
It's an easy way to feed wildlife in your area. Cut pumpkin leftovers into small pieces and serve them on a plate for local squirrels or deer. Or, donate your pumpkin to your local zoo or animal sanctuary. Just make sure to remove all traces of candle wax before feeding the animal. Also, please do not feed anyone with painted pumpkins.
Throw it into the compost
Pumpkin is great for composting and is super nutritious to the soil. Wipe off the wax and paint, then add the pumpkin to the compost heap. If you chop or crush the pumpkin, it will break down faster. If you're a little lazy, throw it in your garden and cover it with leaves. Nature will do the work.
Roasted pumpkin seeds
Roasted pumpkin seeds make a delicious snack. Simply rinse off the pulp, dry with a towel, and bake at 170°C (338°F) for 10-15 minutes on a tray with a little oil. Put a handful of seeds on your morning oatmeal or just take them as a to-go snack. Pumpkin seeds are especially healthy and nutritious, and can meet your protein, fat, antioxidants, and mineral needs. Just one ounce (28 grams) of seeds can meet 42% of an adult's daily manganese needs!
Sow the seeds
If roasted seeds aren't to your taste, but you'd like to try growing your own pumpkin next year, save the seeds! Scoop out, rinse well and dry on paper towels. Keep them in a cool, dry place for 3-4 weeks to make sure they are completely dry. Place the seeds in a paper envelope and save for next June.
Uncarved pumpkin
Make a planter
If your pumpkin is intact, you can use it to make delicious food. But it's also a good temporary grower! This applies to greenery that you want to grow outdoors. Simply slice the top of the pumpkin, dig out the inside, and fill 1/3 of it with potting soil. Put your plants inside and cover the roots with more soil. When the pumpkin starts to rot, dig a hole in the garden and put the pumpkin pot inside. It decomposes and turns into fertilizer for plants!
Make fantastic food
The pumpkin is delicious when cooked. You can use the inside of the pumpkin before carving and painting. But if Halloween is over and you have a pumpkin that isn't carved or painted, make yourself a snack! There are plenty of pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, or pumpkin bread recipes. If cooking isn't your fancy right now, just make a pumpkin puree, divide it into portions, and freeze it. It can stay frozen for about a year!
Pumpkin crushing events are held
It takes some extra work, but you make a big impact. See if your local farm or community is organizing pumpkin crushing. Many farms use pumpkins as feed and compost. Contact the farm and offer to organize a pumpkin crush at their premises. Farms may charge a small fee, but if you have an event-sharing revenue stream (like a food truck), it's a win-win for everyone, including the environment.
Bleach, petroleum jelly, vegetable oil or WD-40. Keep in mind that uncarved pumpkins last much longer than carved pumpkins, so you don't actually need to smear anything. Also, if you leave it as it is, you will be able to reuse it for food.