What's your idea of the perfect carved pumpkin: Funny? Scary? Traditional? Abstract? Before you get started, though, you need to pick the right pumpkin.

But do you really know what makes a good pumpkin?

We talked to Jerry Brust, a vegetable specialist at the University of Maryland, who had these tips on picking — and preserving — the perfect pumpkin.

1. Pick a pumpkin that is completely orange. Green spots mean that it can be easily bruised; they are also likely places for the pumpkin to start rotting.

2. Size does matter. Between 15 and 18 pounds is the ideal size for carving. Don't try carving a small pumpkin.

3. The pumpkin should be firm. If you press it with your thumbnail, it should make a little dent like cardboard. If you can push in fairly far, it's going to rot. Pick up your pumpkin from the bottom. It should feel heavier than it looks. One that feels light is probably rotted inside.

4. Slowly pick up a pumpkin by the handle to see whether it stays attached; if it does, it's a good pumpkin. Look for handles that aren't shriveled and are still dark green. If there's no handle, that doesn't make it a bad pumpkin. But if it's soft at the top, it's likely to decay.

5. If the pumpkin is otherwise perfect but there's a notch, press around the notch; if it's soft, skip it because rot has set in.

6. Is taller or wider better? Makes no difference, Brust said. It depends more on the design you have in store for your pumpkin.

7. Where to buy? In the field, pumpkins have been sitting on the ground, which is fine. But if it has been rainy, the ground can be saturated, and pumpkins start to deteriorate. If you get them at the grocery or home improvement store, they've been cured — dried off and hard enough that they pass the thumbnail test.

8. Once you have your perfect pumpkin, it's time to carve. Put petroleum jelly where you make your cuts. It prevents water loss (which will keep the pumpkin plumper for a little longer) and prevents rot from starting at the cut line.

9. Once carved, your pumpkin will last seven to 10 days. If you don't carve it, it could last a month or more.

10. If you want the pumpkin to last longer, use a battery-operated light to illuminate it. If you use candles, which can cause the pumpkin to decay more quickly because they burn so hot, sprinkle the bottom of the lid of your pumpkin with nutmeg. It'll make a nice aroma when the candle is burning. Of course, be sure to keep a careful eye on candlelit pumpkins, especially around kids and animals.

Join our discussion about Visiting Aloun Farms’ pumpkin patch.