It is important to look for a large pumpkin , heavy in size, and has unblemished skin, according to real simple. Carve too early, and your pumpkin will scare off trick-or-treaters with its rotten teeth! Realistically, if you want your. · carve no more than three days before halloween, evan recommends. · the best time to pick a pumpkin is within a week of when you want to carve it. This way, your jack-o-lantern will remain fresh for trick-or-treaters. If that’s not possible, store your carved pumpkin inside, preferably in the refrigerator, until it’s time to put it on display. If you will have consistently cool weather, you can carve pumpkins three to five days before halloween. If you plan to celebrate on the weekend before or after halloween, pick a pumpkin carving date a few days before the celebration. In really warm climates, carving pumpkins two to four days—or around october 28—will ensure they don’t rot before the holiday. · to maximize the life of your carved pumpkin , make sure its big, fresh, and unblemished, then carve it two or three days before you need it, at most. · we recommend carving your pumpkin one or two days before halloween if its hot outside where you live. · here is the best time to carve your pumpkin before halloween, according to a master gardener and tips for keeping it fresh. · so ideally, wait until the day before halloween t o carve your pumpkin. · for cooler climates, the best day is 7-10 days before halloween, or around october 21.