Whole or carved pumpkin make excellent compost , but not all pumpkins should be composted .
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Every class , about 1.3 billion Cucurbita pepo are thrown in the ice in the United States . However , carved , whole , and fudge pumpkin vine and pumpkin plants are completely compostable . Use these tip to compost pumpkins and sour household waste into a copious soil amendment . Plus , find out which pumpkins youshouldnotcompostand get a few other eco - friendly ideas for putting old pumpkins to good use in the garden and beyond .
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Why Compost Pumpkins?
Pumpkins and other constitutional item do n’t snap off down properly in downhearted oxygen landfill but they ’ll start to release methane , a powerful greenhouse flatulence . When pumpkins are compost , they quickly transform into compost that avail plant and gardens grow better . On top of that , composting pumpkin vine can save you a little money since you wo n’t need to buy as much bagged compost or othersoil amendments for your garden .
When NOT to Compost Pumpkins
Whole , carved , and cooked pumpkins are fully compostable and you could also composthealthy pumpkin plants , pumpkin skins , and pumpkin seeds ( as long as you do n’t mind a few volunteer Cucurbita pepo burgeon forth in your compost pile ) . However , you should not compost pumpkin that have been grace or treated with :
While these products may helpjack - o'-lanterns attend more fun or last longer around Halloween , they are not dependable to integrate into compost mean for nutrient garden .
Tips for Composting Pumpkins
pumpkin can be compost in indoor or out-of-door compost pile or bins , but they can also be directlycomposted in the garden . Whether you ’re entirely novel to compost or you ’re just not certain how to compost pumpkins , these tips will help you transmute carved and uncarved pumpkins into garden - ready compost .
1. Remove decor.
Before adding carved pumpkins to your compost pile , clean out standard candle , candle wax , laurel wreath , and any other non - biodegradable decor . If youpainted pumpkinsand the medallion is specify to the pumpkin skin , you may peel the skin away and compost the blusher - free interior .
2. Cut pumpkins into smaller pieces.
Pumpkins can be compost whole , but they break down quicker if you cut or nail them into smaller pieces . you could expend a kitchen tongue or cleaver to break away your pumpkins apart , but the wanton elbow room to break up pumpkin vine is to stomp on them .
3. Don’t compost diseased plants.
Moldy pumpkins can be add up tooutdoor compost bins , but they should not be place in indoor insect bins or bokashi composters . Whole pumpkin plants and leaves can be compost too as long as they do n’t show signs of pests or disease . Pathogens and blighter can live all but the hottest compost plenty , so it ’s best to throw pathologic plants in the trash or burn them in your fire pit .
4. Remove seeds if you don’t want volunteers.
There ’s a skilful chance that a few pumpkins will sprout in your compost if you add pumpkin seed or whole pumpkins to your cumulus . Some gardeners enjoy grow devoid autumn pumpkin in their compost , but you’re able to keep pumpkins from pullulate by bump off seminal fluid from uncarved pumpkins before composting them . squirrel and other wildlife will blithely feast on those seeds if you place them near your bird feeder .
5. Mix pumpkins with carbon-rich items.
The most authoritative rule of compost is that a goodish compost pile need about 3 part carbon - deep material for every 1 part atomic number 7 - rich cloth . Pumpkins count as nitrogen - rich items , so they ’ll necessitate to bemixed with plenty of autumn leaves , weed - spare straw , and other items that turn back lots of carbon . Keeping your pumpkins cover with leaves or straw during the composting process will keep olfactory property down and deter pests as well .
6. Turn piles regularly.
If you invest Cucurbita pepo in your compost stilt and altogether forget about them , they ’ll reverse into compost eventually . But you may generate compost from pumpkins much quicker if you turn your compost pile at least once a hebdomad . you’re able to apply a garden fork to twist compost , butturning your materials with a compost tumbleris even wanton .
7. Add moisture if needed.
The composting process slows down significantly if compost piles get too dry . Ideally , gobs should be about as wet as a squeeze out sponger during the composting process . If your pile finger parched , add some water to help your pumpkins separate down faster .
8. Try indoor composting.
stale weather also halts compost and you may not be capable to yield stop compost during winter if you live in a chilly field . Of course , composting picks back up again when temperatures warm in spring . But if you ’re in a hurry to make ruined compost , you may desire to exploreindoor composting option , like bokashi or compost with insect .
9. Compost directly in the garden.
Although pumpkins and pumpkin plants are usually composted in compost bins or piles , you may also compost pumpkins directly in the garden with trench composting . Just chop up your Cucurbita pepo into small piece and bury them like a shot in your beds in 12 - column inch - deep trenches . By summer , those pumpkin pieces should be well incorporated into your soil and fueling the growth of your garden .
10. Apply finished compost the right way.
After your pumpkin vine have dampen down into ruined compost , enforce that dark , rich compost like a shot to your garden in spring or summer as a top dressing or side dressing around your plants . you’re able to also apply finished compost as a mulch , brew it in water to make compost teafor plants , or sprinkle it on top of houseplant territory .
Other Ways to Use Pumpkins
Composting is one of the best ways to get free of old pumpkin , but you may find other purpose for carved and uncarved pumpkin that are equally eco - friendly . If you do n’t have a compost heap or you just do n’t want to compost your pumpkins yet , here are a few more ways to use pumpkin .
https://sustainablecampus.fsu.edu/blog/spooky-sustainability-pumpkin-practices
