Decorative pumpkins are a great way to spice up the look of your home during fall holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving. What’s better is that you can choose to either grow them early enough or purchase them directly from the market. Keeping in mind that these are fresh farm products, they are likely to rot within a short period of time. You can however use them as ornaments for a longer period if you preserve them correctly by following a few guidelines. Inspect the fruit Fruits that are ready for harvest appear dull and dry on the exterior. When inspecting the fruit, ensure that there is no damage on the rind as this can lead to untimely rotting. Damage usually occurs during harvest or transportation. Wash A diluted bleach solution made of ten parts water and one part bleach will kill surface bacteria on the rind of your fruit as well as prevent mould from sprouting. Leaving the fruits to soak in the bath for ten minutes or so to ensure will the whole surface is clean. If you’re in a bit of a hurry, wiping will also complete the task.