What Do I Do With My Pumpkins After Halloween?

By Kristen Oaks-White

Louisiana Farm Bureau News

Halloween’s over, the trick-or-treaters are gone, and my porch looks like a pumpkin graveyard. Some are still cute and perky, some are slumping in slow motion, and a few look like they’ve been through a South Louisiana summer storm — which, honestly, they kind of have.

So now what? What do we do with all these pumpkins once the ghosts and goblins go home? Don’t toss them in the trash just yet. Around here, we can squeeze a little more life out of just about anything — pumpkins included.

🌱 1. Feed Your Garden (or Your Chickens)

If your pumpkins are unpainted and uncarved, they’re a gift to your garden or your animals.
Break them up and toss them in your compost pile — they’ll break down fast in Louisiana’s humidity and feed your soil with all kinds of nutrients.

And if you’ve got chickens, pigs, or cows? They’ll happily handle the disposal for you. Just make sure the pumpkins aren’t moldy or covered in paint or glitter. My hens and my cows think pumpkin is a delicacy — it’s basically their version of a pumpkin spice latte.

🐟 2. Feed the Fish

Here’s one you might not have heard before: pumpkins can actually be a great snack for fish!
If you live near a pond or bayou (and who doesn’t in Louisiana?), toss a few small chunks in after removing the seeds. The fish will love it, and it’s an easy way to give nature a little treat — no waste, no guilt.

🎃 3. Cook It Up

If you’ve got any pumpkins still firm and uncarved, roast them up and turn them into something delicious. Homemade pumpkin puree is easy, and it freezes great for later. Perfect for pies, muffins, soups, or even gumbo.

Yes, I said gumbo. Don’t knock it ’til you try it — a little pumpkin adds richness and a hint of sweetness that tastes like fall in a bowl.

To make puree:
Cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds, and roast at 400°F until soft. Scoop, blend, and freeze for Thanksgiving desserts. Easy as (pumpkin) pie.

Check out these recipe for Pumpkin Ice Cream & Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins!

🌾 4. Keep It Cute for Fall

Don’t rush to take down your pumpkins the day after Halloween. Swap out the spooky stuff for a few mums, corn stalks, and a plaid blanket, and suddenly your porch says “harvest season” instead of “haunted house.”

I always keep a few pumpkins out through Thanksgiving — they look too good to waste, and they remind me that fall in Louisiana may be short, but we can stretch it as long as we can.

💛 5. Let Nature Handle It

And if all else fails? Move your pumpkins out to the tree line and let nature do the cleanup.
Deer, raccoons, squirrels — they’ll all find a way to enjoy your leftovers. It’s the circle of life, Louisiana-style.

So before you chunk those pumpkins in the trash, think twice. Compost them, cook them, feed something, or decorate a little longer. Around here, we’re good at making things last — even the pumpkins.