PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — With just 22 days to go until Halloween, time is ticking to get those pumpkins picked and carved.

Though we are living through unprecedented times with many activities closed or altered in some fashion, there are still some options when it comes to finding a pumpkin patch near Pacific Palisades.

Once there, be sure to look for a pumpkin with a firm stem.

“That’s a great indicator of how healthy it is,” horticulturist Steve Reiners told NPR. If the stem is along the rubbery side, “chances are rot organisms will start to soften the pumpkin quickly.”

And when you carve that perfect pumpkin, you can plan on it lasting up to 10 days before it starts to show signs of aging. However, if you want to make it last longer, you can mix three teaspoons of bleach with three gallons of water and spray the solution