Halloween pumpkins

Published: 23 October 2024

Thousands of tonnes of uneaten pumpkins are thrown away each year in the UK after being carved, but pumpkins aren’t just for carving; the flesh can also be used in many fang-tastic recipes for the whole family to enjoy.

Some recipes and ideas for decorating (rather than carving) pumpkins may be found on the Hubbub web site.

Alternatively, you might prefer to try carving some other vegetables or fruit – traditionally, swedes were carved into Jack o’ lanterns in the UK. Guidance on carving as well as suggestions for things other than pumpkins can be found on the Good Food web site.

After Halloween, you can chop your pumpkin up and use it for compost or put it in your kerbside food waste caddy so that it can be turned into a soil conditioner in Padworth.

Please do not dump pumpkins in the countryside - they are not native to the UK so no small animals or vertebrates rely on them for nourishment, and they can disturb soil balances which, in turn, harms wildlife.