The clocks have gone back, and we are very much in the heart of autumn. The days are starting to draw in. Leaves are already changing colour and falling from the trees. Most exciting of all, though, is that Halloween is almost upon us.

If you have kids, you are likely to be carving your pumpkin to make a spooky Halloween lantern.

However, just as the children are looking forward to some free snacks, pumpkin pests are waiting in the wings for their own Halloween treat. From rats and mice, flies or even squirrels, there are lots of pests who will happily munch away on your pumpkin carcass. Whether you’ve Jack-o-Lanterned it up or not!

So, how can you enjoy your pumpkin in all its sweet richness while keeping pumpkin pests at bay? We’ve put together a guide of some handy tips to help.

Don’t Start Carving Until You’re Ready to Use It

It can be quite exciting, especially if you dress up to celebrate the festivities, to turn that large orange vegetable into a magical light as soon as possible. However, your best defence against pumpkin pests is holding off until you are ready to to use the lantern before opening up the pumpkin. As long as it’s not rotting and kept in the appropriate conditions, the fruit flies should remain at bay.

Be Thorough When Gutting It

When it does come time to gut it out, make sure you do as thorough job as you can. The more pulp you remove, the longer the pumpkin will last before mould and pumpkin pests set in.

Extra Protection Against Pumpkin Pests

Whether you intend on keeping your creations outside or elsewhere, there are further things you can do to the carcass to keep it pest-free.

Some people have found using a combination of vinegar and lemon juice to be effective at warding off unwanted pumpkin devourers.

• Sprinkle a little vinegar around the pumpkin and the smell will put off even the most stubborn of rodents and squirrels.
• Coating the pumpkin exterior in lemon juice before you set your knife to it, will slow down the browning process which leads to mould, rot and insect pumpkin pests.

By following the above tips, this will help avoid the problems of unpleasant pumpkin pests trying to get their filthy paws and mouths on your delicious and fun autumnal treat. Happy Halloween!