Looking at the bin of pumpkins in a grocery store or gazing over a vast pumpkin patch can make the task of picking a pumpkin or two for your family just a tad overwhelming.Even if you’re pressed for time, following these tips can make the pumpkin picking process a fun and memorable event for your clan.

Start the selection process by deciding what you want to do with the pumpkin. Will you be carving or painting? Or leaving the pumpkin au natural? Then decide on the shape and color:

• Tall, thin pumpkins are good for funny faces and whimsical expressions.
• Round shapes are perfect for happy faces or scary faces.
• Odd-shaped pumpkins are the right canvas for creating unique characters.
• Looking for something different? Consider a white pumpkin. White pumpkins seem to give off a ghoulish glow as the daylight fades, even when they’re not lit.

The next consideration is size. Just where will you be displaying this pumpkin?

• A large space, like a big front porch or front yard, will look best with a large pumpkin. Or, group multiple medium-size pumpkins to create a display.
• If you have a smaller pumpkin display space, like a table in your entry hall,go with a smaller pumpkin. For a long narrow space, like a mantle or shelf, consider lining up several small pumpkins.

Before making your final selection, there are a few other aspects to look for. Make sure your pumpkin:

• Has a gently curved face for carving that is vertical or tilted slightly upward.
• Is free of soft spots, scars, bruises or breaks in the skin.
• Has a flat base and sits on the ground stable.
• Includes a stem, especially if you will be removing the seeds through a hole in the the top.