Time to pick the perfect pumpkin at Pike Nurseries!

Décor ideas, pumpkin crafts and more in store from local garden experts

It’s finally fall, which means pumpkin season is in full swing! While orange remains the most popular color for the seasonal squash, there are a variety of hues and a quality selection available to choose from at Pike Nurseries. Pumpkin varietals – including Tiger Stripe, Knucklehead, White Ghost, Heirloom, Huge Mac and mini pumpkins (orange, white and striped) – can bring a fresh element to traditional autumn décor. In addition, gourds are great to pair with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, as they offer pops of color and will last well into the winter. 

To help residents get into the festive fall spirit, the neighborhood garden center will host its annual All You Can Carry Pumpkins challenge at all store locations through the end of October! Pumpkin lovers can load their arms with as many classic medium-sized orange pumpkins as they can carry for $19.99 and share pictures of their armful with the hashtag #PikePumpkins on Facebook or Instagram.

DIY Pumpkin Projects
Go beyond the jack-o'-lantern with creative craft ideas for all skill levels from Pike Nurseries on how to incorporate pumpkins in home décor. Tall varietals can be hollowed out and filled with fresh flowers or foraged branches for an all-natural vase, whereas monochromatic pumpkins paired with fresh fall foliage will create a beautiful autumn centerpiece, bringing the outdoors inside during the colorful season. Homeowners looking for more pizzazz can create sparkly and elegant arrangements with glitter pumpkins, spooky designs using fun fabrics like stockings and lace and sweet designs with bows and buttons.

For outside décor, pumpkin topiaries can add structure and statement when stacked high at the front door. Adorn the doorstep or mantle with different sizes to replicate each family member for a fun twist. These can be painted, tacked, etched, left as is for a more natural look or carved. To carve, use a permanent marker to outline a Halloween-inspired design, download a stencil, purchase a pumpkin carving kit or reinvent the process with the pumpkin power tool project. When finished, stick a battery-operated candle inside for an illuminated masterpiece that’s also safe. For more DIY ideas, visit bit.ly/PikePumpkinCrafts.

Pump (kin) up the Flavor
Delicious pumpkin recipes offer a true taste of fall (and nutrition) to both sweet and savory dishes. Whether it’s a tasty breakfast treat (baked pumpkin French toast or pumpkin pancakes), hearty meal (slow cooker pumpkin chili or pumpkin and chickpea fritters) or decadent dessert (traditional pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread pudding), this festive fruit fits in a variety of recipes to satisfy any autumn appetite.

After cleaning out the inside of the pumpkin, don't waste those scooped out seeds. Roasted pumpkin seeds are an easy and delicious autumn snack to make, in addition to being a great source of Vitamin E and K, and are high in protein, zinc, copper and iron. Simply wash the seeds in a colander with cool running water, and dry with a paper towel. Then, place the seeds on a baking tray, drizzle with a small amount of oil and add a pinch of salt. Bake at 300 degrees and roast until the seeds are just starting to brown (about 20 to 25 minutes). Enjoy right away or keep for a few days in an airtight container.

For homeowners looking to grow their own pumpkin patch, clean the seeds before planting in rich soil with full sunlight during the spring (May to mid-June). Then, watch the pumpkins grow throughout the year. When fall finally comes, a home-grown pumpkin patch will be ready and ripe for the picking! 

Whether pumpkins are used as a festive centerpiece, in a tasty recipe or as a spooky jack-o'-lantern for Halloween, Pike Nurseries has the quality selection to pair with ideas to decorate and celebrate the season!

For more seasonal pumpkin ideas from Pike Nurseries, visit bit.ly/PikePumpkins.

DOWNLOAD THE RELEASE

PDF - 174 Kb

Chelsea Bohannon

BRAVE Public Relations

About Pike Nurseries

Ever committed to its customers’ gardening success, Pike Nurseries takes pride in taking the guesswork out of gardening and helping its customers play in the dirt. Offering superior knowledge, quality and selection in a friendly, caring environment, Pike Nurseries has been an Atlanta icon for over 60 years.  Founded in 1958 by Pete Pike, its ability to adapt to market conditions and community needs has made it a respected Southern institution. As Atlanta’s oldest garden chain, Pike Nurseries has 19 retail locations in the Atlanta, Ga. and Charlotte, N.C. areas. Led by President Monte Enright, Pike Nurseries looks forward to continued growth as it keeps Atlanta and Charlotte beautiful, one landscape at a time.

Contact

3555 Koger Boulevard Suite 360 Duluth, GA 30096

(770) 921-1022

www.pikenursery.com