In the News - October 2009
Lengthening a jack o' lantern's life
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -There are a couple of tricks to making this year's
masterful work of jack o' lantern carving last a little longer, said Craig
Andersen, extension horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
Before you make the first mark, Andersen stresses safety first.
"Don't cut yourself. Carve the pumpkin," he said. "It's a good rule to follow
when you've got knives out.
The biggest threat to the jack o' lantern are hungry microbes.
"Once you cut a pumpkin, the race is on with micro-organisms floating in the
air that break down the flesh of the pumpkin," Andersen said. "The fungus most
commonly seen on carved pumpkins is closely related to Rhizopus, the fuzzy black
bread mold."
The pumpkin whittler can extend the life of his or her craft by keeping cut
surfaces and the inside of the pumpkin clean.
Andersen also offers this tip: "After pumpkin is carved, rinse or spray the
cut surfaces and insides with a solution of 1 teaspoon dishwashing detergent in
a quart of water," he said. "You may wish to do this every other day to inhibit
fungal spore germination."
It's important to use dishwashing detergent and not regular soap because of
the different chemical ways the cleaners work, he said. Soap's fatty acids will
encourage mold. Detergent will keep mold from gaining a foothold.
One more tip - be sure the pumpkin is as dry as possible and "keep the lid
askew to allow air circulation," Andersen said.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons
regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability,
marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
(Eds: With 1022Pumpkins; art available on Division of Agriculture photostream; www.uaex.edu, select For the Media, the Photos)
October 22, 2009
Media Contact: Elizabeth Fortune
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
efortune@uaex.edu
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