A summer drought is not enough to snuff out this year's pumpkin supply, said Linda Hiatt, co-owner of Hiatt Farm and manager of the corn maze and pumpkin patch.
The amount of pumpkins has not been affected by the drought, she said; however, the size of the pumpkins has.
"[Each pumpkin has] gotten about three-fourths of the size they were supposed to be," she said.
Hiatt farm offers a few varieties of pumpkins, including smaller pie pumpkins, the jack-o-lantern and the giant jack-o-lantern.
The jack-o-lantern is an average-sized pumpkin, she said, and typically weights about 10 pounds. Jack-o-lantern pumpkins are easy to carry because they do not get too large, Hiatt said, so they are most often used as decorations.
When carving pumpkins, the jack-o-lantern and the giant jack-o-lantern are a good choice, she said.
Tools can be used to make carving a pumpkin easier, she said. There are pumpkin carving sets that can be bought that include a knife with serrated edges, she said. People have been known to use a drill when carving their pumpkins, she said. The drill helps to carve a more detailed pumpkin, she said.
However, carving pumpkins is not the only way a person can use pumpkins as decorations, she said. They can also be painted. Pie pumpkins or smaller jack-o-lanterns are often selected to be painted, Hiatt said.
She has also seen people turn pumpkins into a vase to hold an assortment of flowers as a centerpiece, or people set up an arrangement of pumpkins on the front steps of their house, she said.
Pick a pumpkinHiatt Farm7351 S. State Road 67Muncie, IN 47302(765)744-2795 Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday,5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday Cost: Adults $6Children 6 to 12 $55 and younger free
Smith Family Farms7055 W. 675 S. Pendleton 46064778-8108 Hours: Open every weekend in October11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Cost: $3 per personChildren younger than 3 are free
Preservation tipsFor college students or anyone else who carves pumpkins, Hiatt said a good way to preserve those carved pumpkins would be to pick a pumpkin without a blemish or a scar on its surface.
A solution made out of bleach and water can be made to help preserve the carved pumpkins, as well as keeping the pumpkins cool, she said. If the pumpkins get too warm, they will rot faster, she said.
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