How to choose your pumpkin? Our tips for finding the perfect one

Big, small, perfectly round or completely crooked… choosing a pumpkin is one of the little pleasures of autumn.

But how do you know which one to choose?

It all depends mainly on what you want to do with it: decorate the house, carve a Halloween pumpkin or cook with it.

Here are some simple tips to find the one that suits you.

🎃 1. Check that it is firm

Take the pumpkin in your hands and examine it.

It should be firm and solid , without any soft spots. A very soft, moist, or damaged area may indicate that the pumpkin will begin to deteriorate more quickly.

A few marks or imperfections on the skin are perfectly normal. They often even give pumpkins a lot of character!

🌿 2. Look at the stem

A nice stem is practical, especially if you want to use your pumpkin as a decoration.

Ideally, choose a pumpkin with a stem that is still strong and well attached .

However, avoid carrying your pumpkin by the stem alone: it could break.

Instead, take it from underneath with both hands.

🎨 3. For decorating: dare to use different shapes

The perfect pumpkin doesn't have to be perfectly round.

To decorate an entrance, a table or a balcony, mix:

• large and small pumpkins;

• round or elongated shapes;

• different colors;

• smooth or more textured pumpkins.

The slightly imperfect pumpkins are often the most original!

👻 4. To sculpt: find a fairly smooth surface

If your goal is to create a Halloween pumpkin, choose one with:

• a relatively regular surface;

• enough space to draw your face;

• a base stable enough so that it stands up well.

Before choosing, imagine where the eyes, nose, and mouth will be!

For children, choosing the shape of their future character is often part of the fun.

🥧 5. For cooking: don't necessarily choose the biggest one

Huge pumpkins are fun for Halloween, but for cooking, smaller varieties intended for cooking are often more interesting.

If you want to prepare soup, puree, muffins or a pie, simply ask which variety is recommended for cooking.

👀 6. Let the children choose too

Adults often look for the roundest or most perfect pumpkin.

Children, however, sometimes choose:

the smallest, the weirdest, the one with a bump, or simply “that one because it’s that one”.

And that's often what makes tradition fun.

Give them a few minutes to look, compare and find their pumpkin.

🍂 Take advantage of this to go on a real autumn outing

Choosing a pumpkin is even more enjoyable when it's not just a quick stop at the store.

At Ferme Éco des Champs, in the Aylmer sector of Gatineau , autumn is an opportunity to take time outside and enjoy the countryside with family.

Come and choose your pumpkins, walk around the farm and enjoy the colours of the season.

🐐 Come see the animals

During your visit, take the opportunity to meet the farm animals.

Children can observe them, pet them and feed them.

It is often this small detour that transforms the search for a pumpkin into a real family outing.

🎨 And if the weather gets cooler…

You can also discover our ceramic painting workshop bus .

A creative activity that goes particularly well with cool autumn days: choose a room, take your brushes and create quietly on the farm.

🍁 Above all, choose the one you like

Ultimately, there is no such thing as a perfect pumpkin.

There's one that will be perfect for you .

A huge one for the front door.

A small one for the kitchen.

A funny one for children.

Or three completely different ones because it was impossible to choose.

And that's probably the best part of pumpkin season.

Happy autumn season! 🎃🍂

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