There are rising fears that Halloween fun might be squashed this year due to a predicted shortage of pumpkins.
Shortages of the gourd have been caused by a combination of poor August weather and lack of HGV drivers and pickers, The i reports.
Whether or not these concerns come to pass, it might be a good time to get creative and use other fruits and vegetables to decorate with this year.
Metro.co.uk has compiled a list of the best alternatives to ensure you can still spook in style.
Alternative fruits and vegetables to carve for Halloween
You can also extend the shelf life of your frightening fruits by a few extra days by refrigerating them immediately after cutting them before putting them on display.
Turnips
A spokesman for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk told Metro.co.uk: ‘In the 19th century, people used to hollow out turnips into lanterns or carve them with scary faces particularly in the Scottish Highlands and parts of Ireland to celebrate Halloween.’
So why not celebrate the past by turning a turnip into a Jack-o’-lantern.
They last around two weeks before starting to go bad.
Turnips shrivel up as time goes by – this only adds to the spooky appeal as they start to resemble shrunken heads.
Pineapples
GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk recommends using pineapples, as they have a bumpy texture which adds to the scare factor when carved and lit up.
The green leaves at the top add to the horror look – resembling a zombie hand.
Pineapples last between three to five days after being carved.
The telltale sign it has begun to rot is when the exterior starts to turn orange and the flesh turns brown.
Butternut squash
Your Halloween plans don’t need to be totally squashed – a butternut squash makes for a great pumpkin alternative.
Butternut squashes and pumpkins are actually in the same cucurbits family.
They have the same texture and flavour as pumpkins, meaning you can still use their flesh for soups and pies.
They stay fresh for up to two weeks after carving.
Oranges
Oranges make for a brilliant alternative because they are similar in shape and colour – but in a smaller, cuter package.
You could buy a bag of oranges and carve different faces into each – or simply stick googly eyes to them like in the above picture.
Oranges can last around three to four days after being cut, or a week if they are kept refrigerated.
Peppers
Bell peppers make for an excellent alternative as they are super easy to cut into.
Orange bell peppers look like tiny pumpkins, but carving one in every colour is particularly eye-catching.
Peppers can last up to 5 days after being cut before they start to go bad.
You can even stuff the peppers and bake them for a spooktacular healthy dinner.
Watermelon
GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said that watermelons can be an appealing choice because they’re a similar size and shape to pumpkins.
These fruits can make effective decorations with their ghoulish green exterior and pinky-red insides – which look like gore.
Watermelons last around three to five days after being cut, or can survive up to a week if kept in the fridge until needed for a Halloween display.
Onions
An onion can work if you’re really in a pinch.
These smelly veggies are bound to leave a tear (of fear) in the eye of any trick-or-treaters.
Onions will last around three days after being carved before they start to go bad.
Avocados
Avocados have a squeamishly squishy green inside, which makes for a great ghoulish face.
Either carve the outside as you would for a pumpkin, or chop these bad boys in half and create a face with the seed as a mouth or nose.
Avocados retain their freshness for around three to four days after being cut, and will likely turn brown as a sign they are going off.
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