Related
Soon , pumpkin gardener everywhere will hold back for the perfect moment to harvest those plump pumpkin vine . Whether they design touse them for cooking , decoration or carving for Halloween , the fourth dimension is almost here !
For those who did decide togrow pumpkinsthis twelvemonth , you credibly wonder when it ’s the best time to harvest them . Do you cut them when they are green , orangish , or somewhere in between ? And how do you glean them ? Should you keep the stalk brusk or prospicient ?
Have no concern pumpkin friends ! Though Halloween scares are in front , harvesting your pumpkin vine is nothing to sweat about . Here is everything to know about when and how to harvest your pumpkin !
When to Harvest Pumpkins
Image credits : t4no via Pixabay
When it comes to knowing when to harvest , most pumpkin take seven week to mature . During these week , it goes from a prime to the orotund , plump , and big squash racquets we all know and have intercourse .
Whether seven weeks drop dead or not , always pick your pumpkins before a hard Robert Lee Frost . It is normally in belated September or early October , calculate upon your mood and location .
Pumpkins left out in a intemperate Robert Frost get damage and become unuseable , rot quickly . Therefore , harvest sooner if your weather condition forecast predicts an former wintertime .
Materials Required:
Image credits : Malikova Nina via Shutterstock
Before you take the air out into your garden , ensure you have the tools your need to get start :
A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Harvest Pumpkins
Step one: Check if Your Pumpkin is Ripe and Ready
Image credits : Alexey Hulsov via Pixabay
The first hint to identifying a ripe pumpkin is to front at the colouring material . Pumpkins begin small , becoming large , and changing in color as they grow . They pop as a bloom , become light unripened , turn dark unripened , and eventually transmute to orange . When your pumpkin is that beautiful orange color seen in magazines and movies , it is time to harvest !
Another direction to tell if your Cucurbita pepo is quick is through the fingernail trial run . expend a fingernail and scratch a small part of the pumpkin vine ’s cutis . If you struggle to get a nail to scratch the surface , it is tough , ready , and ripe for pluck .
last , if you still are n’t sure about your pumpkin vine ’s readiness , face at the vine ! Is it begin to dry and wither ? Is it change state a lightsome brown color ? It means the works is no longer providing nutrients to the fruit , and the pumpkin is ready .
Pro Tip : Just think , not all pumpkins are orange , so ensure you do your inquiry for the specific form your maturation . If your pumpkin is of a unlike miscellanea than the usual orange pumpkins , the mature color varies . Some pumpkins stay green the entire time , while others fall in shades of pink , blueish , yellow , brown , or white !
Step Two: Cut Your Fruit from the Vine
epitome credits : ALong via Shutterstock
Use a sharp pair of scissors , knife , or horticulture shears to cut your pumpkin from the vine . Do not break down off the vine because this often leads to yield damage . Not to mention , it results in an awkward prow or a pumpkin without a stem at all ! When snub , leave about three or four inches of the vine seize .
It is important to use a clean blade and avoid offend or damaging the pumpkin vine . These precaution prevent diseases from get into the pumpkin ’s skin or stem . Thehealthier the pumpkin vine , the longer it will endure !
Step Three: Cure Your Harvest
persona credit : David Cardinez via Pixabay
Once yourpumpkins are off the vine , heal them before salt away them . This process improves the durability of a autumn pumpkin ’s skin , allowing it to last longer in store .
Cure your pumpkins outdoors or in a glasshouse for up to two weeks . They command a dry and gay location to heal properly . If the weather is favorable , bring around your pumpkin in the garden before institute them indoors . If not , protect your curing pumpkins from conditions and pestilence by adding stand and covers .
Pro Tip : While bring around , place pale yellow , cardboard , or paper underneath your pumpkin to keep the bottom ironical . If you require cold weather while curing , cover your Cucurbita pepo with blanket . Still too cold ? land your curing pumpkins into the shed or service department until the cold weather passes .
Step Four: Where and How to Store
Image credits : Mary Prentice via Shutterstock
Once you cure your pumpkin , they are quick for storage ! Keep them in a cool , dry place that has honest tune circulation . The idealistic temperature for storage is around 50 to 60 degree Fahrenheit .
recollect , too frigid or damp , andpumpkins will rotand become unuseable . If you cure and store your pumpkins properly , they will last up to two or three months !
Give ‘Em PUMPKIN to Talk About!
Ready to show off just how great your pumpkins are ? Use this guide to glean your pumpkin at the gross time . A time when your Cucurbita pepo are that robust orange tree color , loggerheaded - skinned , and ready for use !
glean your pumpkin with a neat knife , allowing a few inches of stem to remain upon it . Once they are thin out , cured , and salt away – pull them out whenever you areready to displayor eat them !
Did you raise pumpkin this class ? What do you contrive to do with them ? Comment below on your preferred use for home - grown pumpkins !
