Gearing up for the fall season? If so, then a trip to your local pumpkin patch may be in order. As you scour the patch for your perfect carving pumpkin, there are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you walk away with a winner!

Check for Soft Spots

The fresher the pumpkin, the longer you'll be able to display it without worrying about decay. You can check for early signs of decay by gently poking around the circumference of the pumpkin with your finger. If you notice any soft or spongy spots, the pumpkin is probably beginning to decay inside, so it may be better to move along. 

A pumpkin without soft spots and with a nice, sturdy stem is likely fresh and ideal for carving.

The Rounder, The Better

When it comes to successfully carving a pumpkin, the greater the surface area you have to work with, the easier time you'll have. This is especially true if you're working with children or if you have a specific pattern you'll be tracing and carving into the pumpkin. With that in mind, opt for pumpkins that are rounder as opposed to oval in shape.

Give it a Quick Knock

A hollow pumpkin will be much easier to carve through. You can check this by knocking on the wall of a pumpkin. As you try this on a few pumpkins, you will be able to tell which are hollow versus which have thicker walls. It's also worth noting that if you want to grab some pumpkins for roasting seeds or for cooking, ones with thicker walls are better. 

When in Doubt, Grab Extras

Pumpkins tend to be pretty inexpensive, so when all else fails and you're not sure you've grabbed the perfect pumpkin, why not just grab a few extras? This way, if you end up making a mistake with carving one or two of them, you won't need to run back out to the patch. And of course, any pumpkins you don't end up carving can be cooked, harvested for seeds, or used as simple decoration! If you have children, you might even consider letting them paint a pumpkin instead of carving.

With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to selecting that perfect pumpkin on your next trip to the local patch. From there, all that's left to do is to get carving! To learn more fun tips, contact a company like Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch.