Released October 22, 2009

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.

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http://www.uaex.edu/news/october2009/1022keepingjack.htm

Editor: Elizabeth Fortune, (501) 671-2120, efortune@uaex.edu