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BBy y MMaacc B Baaiilleeyy

My HypothesisMy Hypothesis–Hypothesis:Hypothesis:

–PumpkinsPumpkins that have special that have special treatment will survive longer treatment will survive longer than the than the Control PumpkinControl Pumpkin, to , to which nothing will be done. which nothing will be done.

Control Pumpkin Control Pumpkin I named my control I named my control pumpkin Bob.pumpkin Bob.

Nothing wasNothing was

done to done to BobBob,,

who was left onwho was left on

the porch.the porch.

Pumpkin # 1:Pumpkin # 1:

Test pumpkin procedure 1Test pumpkin procedure 1My 1My 1stst test test pumpkinpumpkin was named was named Lee.Lee. I put I put LeeLee in the in the oven for 4 hours at 200 degrees hoping that cooking it oven for 4 hours at 200 degrees hoping that cooking it would keep it from rotting.would keep it from rotting.

Pumpkin #3:Pumpkin #3:

Test pumpkin procedure 2Test pumpkin procedure 2My 2My 2ndnd test test pumpkinpumpkin was named was named Thor. Thor. I put I put ThorThor in the oven for 4 in the oven for 4 hours at 200 degrees, and then it stayed in the oven for 20 more hours at 200 degrees, and then it stayed in the oven for 20 more hours on WARM, hoping that drying it out would keep it from rotting.hours on WARM, hoping that drying it out would keep it from rotting.

:Pumpkin #4:Pumpkin #4

Test Pumpkin procedure 3Test Pumpkin procedure 3My 3My 3rdrd pumpkinpumpkin was named was named Sue. Sue. I put I put SueSue in the in the refrigerator for 4 days, hoping it would keep it from rotting.refrigerator for 4 days, hoping it would keep it from rotting.

Pumpkin #2:Pumpkin #2:

Test pumpkin procedure 4Test pumpkin procedure 4My 4My 4thth pumpkinpumpkin was named was named Clive.Clive.

I sprayed I sprayed CliveClive with Acrylic finish, hoping that sealing with Acrylic finish, hoping that sealing it would keep it from rotting. it would keep it from rotting. Pumpkin #5:Pumpkin #5:

Test PumpkinsTest PumpkinsAfter 4 days, I pulled SueSue out of the refrigerator. SueSue had not rotted at all,

and neither had BobBob or CliveClive, who had been on the porch for 4 days, with LeeLee and ThorThor. Sue Sue was placed on the porch with the others.

ThorThor and LeeLee had already rotted in only 4 days, and had to be thrown away.

BobBob after 4 days after 4 days

Thor / Bob / LeeThor / Bob / Lee

SueSue after 4 days after 4 days

Lee / SueLee / Sue

LeeLee after 4 days after 4 days

ThorThor after 4 days after 4 days

CliveClive after 4 days after 4 days

Clive / ThorClive / Thor

10 days later10 days laterBobBob, , SueSue, and , and CliveClive remained remained on the porch for an another 10 on the porch for an another 10 days so I could see which days so I could see which rotted more quickly. Here was rotted more quickly. Here was the result after warm days, the result after warm days, cool nights, and rain.cool nights, and rain.

CliveClive

MAGGOTS AND MOLD

SueSue

DEAD FLIES, WATER, AND MOLD

BobBob

MAGGOTS AND MOLD

ConclusionConclusionNothing will keep a pumpkin from rotting forever, but refrigerating it until you are ready to put it on the porch will help preserve it, and spraying it with Acrylic will keep the inside dryer. Cooking it or trying to dry it out in the oven are the worst things that you can do to it and will make it rot quickly.