Harvesting Pumpkins: Timing, Curing, and Storing

Pumpkins are a great crop for beginner gardeners. They’re easy to grow and can be prolific producers when given enough space to sprawl. They’re also a great choice for a parkway or devil’s strip, where you may want to suppress weeds without investing much time in landscape maintenance.

Alternatively, you can plant them at the edge of a garden bed or in the corner of a raised bed, allowing the vines to trail freely over the side. Harvesting pumpkins is fun too!

Although pumpkins are easy to grow, there are a few things to keep in mind when harvesting to ensure you get the most from your crop. When selecting a variety to grow, remember that pumpkins come in many types, from classic pie pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns to miniature varieties like Jack Be Little. Some, like Big Max, can even grow to over 100 pounds!

When To Harvest Pumpkins

Once you’ve chosen a pumpkin variety to grow, check the seed packet for details on its mature size, color, and days to harvest. While these specifics vary by variety, there are a few general guidelines to follow for all pumpkins.

Pumpkins go through several growth stages before they’re ready to pick. Generally, they can be harvested with a sharp knife in about 90 to 120 days.

Around the halfway point to maturity, the plant will begin to flower. Its large yellow squash blossoms resemble those of zucchini, butternut, acorn squash, and other members of the Cucurbita pepo family. These blossoms are also edible.

Like other squash, pumpkins produce separate male and female flowers—the pollen from the male flower must reach a female flower for fruit to set. After successful pollination, tiny pumpkins will begin to swell at the base of the female flower. They typically start green and gradually ripen to their final color.

You’ll know your pumpkin harvest is near when the vines begin to die back. Keep an eye on the days to harvest for your variety. If this timing aligns with the vines dying back (usually in late summer or early fall), your pumpkins are nearly ready to pick.

Regardless of their ripeness, it’s essential to harvest them before the first frost. Despite being classified as winter squash, pumpkins cannot tolerate a hard frost. Once exposed, the vines will die, and the fruit can quickly rot in the garden.

Stem

In addition to the pumpkin vine dying back, you’ll notice that the stem attaching the pumpkin to the vine begins to turn from green to brown. A brown, woody stem is a strong visual indicator that your pumpkins are almost ready for harvest.

Rind

If you research gardening tips for harvesting pumpkins, you’ll likely come across the fingernail test. This is a simple way to check if your pumpkin is ready. As the fruit ripens, its outer rind hardens. Press your fingernail into the rind, and if it barely leaves a mark, this indicates that the rind is beginning to toughen and the pumpkin is nearly ready for harvest.

A hard rind is what sets winter squash apart from summer squash, allowing it to be stored for longer periods without rotting.

Color

Pumpkins come in a wide range of colors, including shades of green, white, yellow, red, blue, and, most recognizably, orange. They can be solid or spotted, depending on the variety.

Fully ripe pumpkins gradually transition from green to their mature color, which varies by type. Check the vines in your garden to see if the fruit has changed to its final color before harvesting.

Size

As with color, the size of a mature pumpkin depends on its variety. Sugar Pie pumpkins are typically small, while some varieties can grow to hundreds of pounds.

Once your pumpkin has reached its expected size and fully developed its color, it’s time to harvest. Cut the stems where the vines are planted, then take the pumpkins from the garden to be cured.

How To Harvest Pumpkins

Once all the signs of ripeness have been met, it’s time to harvest the fruits of your labor. Picking pumpkins in dry conditions helps reduce the risk of mold and mildew, such as powdery mildew, affecting your harvest.

As mentioned earlier, be sure to harvest pumpkins before the first hard frost, as frost damage can shorten their storage life. Handle pumpkins carefully to avoid damaging the skin, stem, or outer rind.

Keep The Stem

When harvesting pumpkins, it’s important to keep the stem attached, as it helps prolong their shelf life. Removing the stem creates an entry point for insect pests and rot.

Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the pumpkin from the vine, leaving at least 4 inches of stem intact. Never pull the pumpkin off by hand, as this can damage the vine (and if other pumpkins are still ripening, it may affect their growth). Unlike some fruits, pumpkins will not continue to ripen once removed from the vine.

Always carry pumpkins by the base, never by the stem, to prevent breakage and ensure they stay in good condition.

Curing

Properly cured pumpkins can last for months at room temperature. To cure them, place the pumpkins in a dry, sunny spot for 7 to 14 days after harvesting. This allows the skin to harden, helping extend their shelf life.

For added protection, some gardeners recommend wiping pumpkins down with a diluted solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water to help prevent pests and diseases from spoiling the harvest. This step is optional.

Once cured, store pumpkins in a cool, dry place with good air circulation, away from direct sunlight. Ideal storage locations include a shed or root cellar.

How To Store Pumpkins

If you choose to grow pumpkins in your garden, you’ll be rewarded at the end of the season with a harvest perfect for both food and decoration. To get the most out of your crop, it’s important to store them properly. The best storage method depends on how you plan to use your pumpkins after harvesting them.

Pumpkins with any damage to the skin or rind should be used immediately rather than set aside for long-term storage.

Refrigerator

The easiest way to store pumpkins is in the refrigerator. Pumpkins intended for consumption within a month stay freshest in the cold environment of the fridge. While they don’t need to be cured before refrigeration, curing can help extend their shelf life.

For best results, store pumpkins in the back of the refrigerator, where the temperature is coldest.

Room Temperature

Storing pumpkins at room temperature requires a bit more care. If you choose this method, the pumpkins must be cured first after being harvested. Once cured, they can be stored in a root cellar, shed, basement, or any other dry area with good air circulation and consistently cool temperatures.

To prevent damage, store pumpkins in a single layer. Stacking them can bruise the skin or break the stem, leading to rot. This method is ideal for pumpkins intended for fall decorations, especially for Halloween.

Freezer

This is the best long-term storage solution if you plan to use pumpkins for various culinary purposes. Pumpkins can be roasted, puréed, and frozen for future use in pies, bread, muffins, cakes, and more. The seeds can be removed, roasted, and stored in an airtight container.

Pumpkin can also be cut into small orange cubes and frozen for later use in soups and stews. While frozen pumpkin can technically last indefinitely, it is best consumed within a year to avoid freezer burn and loss of texture.

Dehydrating

Dehydrating pumpkin is a great option if you want to make pumpkin powder straight from the garden. Simply dehydrate pumpkin slices and blend them into a fine powder using a spice or coffee grinder. This powder can be used in baking or added to soups for extra pumpkin flavor. Toss some roasted seeds on top, and you’re all set!

Even better, dehydrated pumpkin slices make a healthy treat for dogs. Pumpkin fiber is known to aid digestion.

Freeze-Drying

Freeze-drying is the ultimate long-term storage option. While freeze dryers aren’t cheap, they can be a worthwhile investment if you have a large harvest to preserve without taking up much space.

You can freeze-dry cubed pumpkin and store it in mylar bags. These cubes will rehydrate easily when added directly to soups. Unlike a dehydrator, a freeze dryer offers more flexibility, allowing you to preserve a wider variety of foods from your garden. You can even freeze-dry pieces of pumpkin pie to make delicious pumpkin pie bites!

No matter how you choose to store or use your pumpkins, don’t let those seeds go to waste! Scoop out the insides, rinse the pulp from the seeds, then lightly salt and roast them for a tasty snack or plant again next year.

Frequently Asked Questions