Here's How Martha Picks Pumpkins and Uses Them For Fall Décor

It’s that time of year when everyone is picking pumpkins for delicious seasonal dishes and enchanting fall décor—including Martha. Recently, Martha shared on her blog the bounty of vibrant pumpkins and winter squash she's grown in her garden, along with her expert tips for picking and enjoying them.

In preparation for the fall season, Martha begins planting her pumpkin seeds 90 to 120 days prior, giving them enough time to grow. There are so many different kinds of pumpkins and winter squash, Martha includes a variety of seeds to see how they grow in her garden and to indulge in the different flavors that each crop will bring. 

Martha’s Tips for Picking Pumpkins

Since pumpkins are a bigger crop, it's important to make sure that you plant them in a very spacious area, giving them enough room for their long vines to grow throughout the season. When picking the pumpkins, Martha shares that it is important not to injure the rind of the pumpkin as decay and fungi will attack the fruit through the wounds. She recommends keeping a few extra inches on the stem when removing the pumpkins from the vines—this will increase the keeping time of your pumpkin.

How Martha Uses Pumpkins for Dècor

Once you have successfully picked your pumpkins, decide which you will use for cooking and which ones you want to use as dècor for the season. At Martha’s farmhouse, she shared a few of her easy pumpkin display ideas—showcasing them lined up outside on her stone wall between plants and along her steps—a display she does every year.

The uniquely shaped and colorful gourds and squash make for a festive centerpiece outside or indoors, as Martha shares in the below picture out on her terrace. You can lay them out flat, or place them in a wicker basket.