Chances are, you’re still busy making sure your house is the envy of your neighbors for the fall season. Luckily, there’s a good deal to take your space to the next level: Costco’s viral heirloom pumpkins, which are fully stocked online and selling for $8 each.
To my delight, the retailer has five different varieties, including orange, white, and green. Grab them to spruce up a mantel, line your front steps à la Martha Stewart, or arrange an Instagram-worthy entryway to greet guests in style all season long.
However, before you click “add to cart,” it’s worth knowing how to keep heirloom pumpkins as fresh as possible (hopefully, until Halloween!). That’s why I tapped Danielle Sherwood, master gardener and managing editor at Epic Gardening, for her best tips and tricks to ensure your money doesn’t go to waste.
🎃 Create a vinegar bath right away. Even though store-bought pumpkins are cured, Sherwood recommends setting them in a vinegar bath as soon as you bring them home. Simply fill a bucket with 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water, and submerge them for around 30 minutes. “This kills off mold that causes them to rot prematurely,” she explains. “Using a spray bottle to coat them works too, if you prefer.” Once this is done, give them enough time to air-dry and be sure to store them in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight.
🎃 Consider the type of heirloom pumpkin. Not every pumpkin will last for the entire fall season. Some varieties might thrive for just a month, while others can stay in good shape for three months or more. “Certain heirloom types, like the red-orange ‘Cinderella’ pumpkin, have a thinner skin that doesn’t last as long,” Sheerwood says. “Blue ‘Jarrahdale’ pumpkins have a nice thick skin and can easily store for six months.”
🎃 Certain climates are not ideal. “Any pumpkin in a nice dry and cool spot will outlast one that is exposed to rain, full sun, high heat, or temperature drops,” Sheerwood explains. She suggests placing a piece of cardboard or small stool underneath them to help absorb any moisture that might creep up under the base. It’s also a good idea to leave space between each pumpkin for proper air circulation. “If you get a nighttime frost or rainstorm, bring them inside until it’s dry out,” she adds.
🎃 Pick wisely when shopping in-store. Feel mushy spots when trying to choose the perfect pumpkin? That’s a sign that it won’t hold up well over time. “The longest-lasting pumpkins will have a solid, firm rind,” Sheerwood says.
There’s another tip for handling them, too: “If the stem breaks off, it creates a wound that lets rot enter and spread, so hold them by the base rather than the stem to avoid breakage.”
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
