It's a time-honored Fall tradition- heading out to the pumpkin patch to pick that perfect one.

So what's the trick to finding, and carving, a pumpkin not even Charlie Brown can resist?

We spent some time amidst the jack-o-lanterns ourselves to find out.

At Helene's Hilltop Orchard, in Merrill, they say now is the perfect time to pick out your pumpkin. The drought and warmer than normal weather are causing the pumpkins to turn orange earlier than usual.

But just because you get that pumpkin now doesn't mean you should carve it. Once it's carved, the pumpkin is only good for about five to seven days, so wait until a week before Halloween to create your masterpiece.

In the meantime, the best thing to do is keep it outdoors on a piece of wood, or as close to your house as possible. Don't forget, if you know a freeze is coming, cover it up with a sheet or a blanket.

For pumpkin recipes, like Kristen Guilfoos on Facebook!