From repellent to lemon juice , here are a few simple way to keep pest off your pumpkins .
Brie Goldman
Pumpkins are a favorite Halloween decoration because they areeasy to carve for seafarer - o’-lanternsand use forfall craft undertaking . Unfortunately , Cucurbita pepo are also an attractive solid food root for pest and insects . While bug bet an authoritative role in decompose and reuse plant nutrients , you do n’t require them to start the pumpkin - decaying mental process before the time of year ends . Here are natural and non - toxic ways to prevent bugs from ruin your Halloween .
Credit:Brie Goldman
How to Prevent Bugs from Ruining Your Pumpkins
1. Pick the Right Pumpkin
Whenselecting a pumpkin for carving , prefer a firm and undamaged one . calculate for a deep orange outer shell with a brilliant green stem . The out bed of the autumn pumpkin is a protective stratum . If pierce , the Cucurbita pepo becomes vulnerable to insects , mould , bacteria , and fungi , which do the pumpkin to rot and decay . So , avoid pumpkins that are damaged or cracked .
2. Delay Pumpkin Carving
While it is tempting to carve your pumpkins early in the time of year , it ’s better to keep them solid and uncarved until a few days before Halloween . The pulp of the pumpkin is the most tempting part for hemipteron , so when cut up , remove the insides completely . you could evensave the seeds to roast . Also , do n’t disconnect the stem from the pumpkin vine ; it still holds worthful nutrient that help your carved pumpkin last longer .
3. Treat the Outside
If allow untreated , most pumpkins lead off to molder a week after chip at . To draw out the life of a pumpkin vine , treat the exterior with lemon juice . The acidity of lemon juice help the pumpkin maintain its people of color and prevents atomic number 8 from interacting with the enzymes that cause pumpkin radioactive decay .
Another trick is to utilise petroleum gelatin or vapour fray around your autumn pumpkin to make a protective barrier . hemipterous insect find it difficult to crawl over the sly surface and into the sweet spotlight they ’re after . The strong muckle vapor snag scent also acts as a deterrent . you could also spray your pumpkin with clear , non - toxic spray blusher to make it less attractive and approachable for bugs see for an light meal .
4. Use Natural Bug Repellents
Use natural repellents to keep pests at Laurus nobilis . Vinegar , baking sal soda , or essential oils — like peppermint , cinnamon , and eucalyptus — can create a protective roadblock for your jack - o’-lantern .
To spray the outside of your pumpkin , create a solution of equal part water andwhite vinegar , or make a atomiser using water and a few drops of essential oil color . Spritz and refresh every mates of twenty-four hours . Most insects dislike the strong scent and will stay away .
To dissuade bugs from getting too comfortable in or around your pumpkin , create a ring of salt , baking soda , or Capsicum annuum longum black pepper at the stand of the pumpkin .
5. Use the Right Light
Light tend to attract insects , so illuminated jack - o’-lanterns are easy for bug to spot . Citronella candlesare a pop choice for a light source rather than diminish and food scents . However , because candles produce heat inside the confined pumpkin cavity , the heat cause your pumpkin vine to disintegrate from the privileged out . Instead , spray citronella oil inside , but apply lambency sticks or barrage - operated candles to light up your jack - o’-lanterns with spooky shadow .
6. Keep Your Pumpkin Out of Reach
lift your Cucurbita pepo on a stand , porch , or other raised control surface rather than sitting them on stairs or a landing place . It ’s more difficult for insects to gain access to higher space . Check your pumpkin day by day for sign of hemipterous insect or rot . When it starts to slump or decay , it ’s time to thrash about it out , as it could top to a largebug infestationthat is challenging to carry off .
7. Bleach Carefully
If you ’re in a child- and pet - free base , you might need to try a more aggressive stance . After carving the pumpkin , protect the interior by spraying it with a bleach and pee solution . produce the solution with a teaspoonful of bleach in a gallon of water . The unattackable aroma of the bleaching agent and the sour taste keep insect out , along with more gnarly pesterer like mice and rodent . While keeping the pumpkin moist inside , bleach ’s anti - microbic properties forestall mold growth and prolong the life sentence of your pumpkin .
