Discover how to achieve maximum flavor and the longest shelf life, as well as the best places to store pumpkin at home.
If you harvest the pumpkin too early, it will be bland, not having developed its natural sweetness.
If you wait too long, frost may shorten the pumpkin's storage life.
When the perfect moment arrives, you will notice one or more of these signs indicating that the pumpkin is ready:
Dry pumpkin leaves. When the leaves dry out and turn brown, the plant's life cycle is complete; it will have infused its fruits with as much flavor as possible.
Woody stems on the pumpkin. When the stems on each pumpkin stop being green and turn hard and brown like wood, your pumpkins are ready for harvest.
Frost threatens the pumpkin. Exposure to light frost will reduce the pumpkin's shelf life, while a hard freeze will ruin it. If the weather forecast predicts low temperatures, it's time to bring the pumpkins indoors.
Your pumpkins should last up to six months at home (or even longer!) in a dark, dry place at temperatures between 10 and 16°C.
It’s a good idea to place a layer of cardboard or plywood underneath; this will protect your floor in case any start to rot. Regularly check and rotate the pumpkins at home, discarding any that show signs of mold.
Keep in mind that varieties with thinner skin (like butternut squash) typically do not store as long as those with thicker skin.
By harvesting pumpkins at peak ripeness and properly drying and storing them, you will enjoy a product of exquisite quality that you can use throughout the fall and winter.
Source: theseedcollection.