How to Store Pumpkins
Tip
Harvest your pumpkins prior to the first deep frost.
If desired, pumpkin can also be stored by canning, freezing or drying, though if you choose to freeze pumpkin, the fruit must be cooked first or product is likely to be of inferior quality when thawed.
Warning
Do not store pumpkins near apples and pears. These fruits release a chemical as they ripen, which can encourage pumpkin decay.
Do not place ripe pumpkins directly on to concrete as this will encourage bacterial growth and expedite cellular breakdown which leads to rotting.
Nothing says “harvest” like a big pile of bright orange pumpkins. These large, round fruits are synonymous with fall and are most commonly used for Halloween jack-o'-lanterns and pumpkin pies. Grown on long trailing vines throughout the world, pumpkins are welcome additions to any garden. Proper storage of the harvested pumpkins is simply another aspect of successful gardening.
Pick the pumpkins when they have developed a uniform color and the exterior surfaces have lost their shine. If you find color to be an unreliable indicator, check the tendrils of the vine closest to the fruit. When the pumpkin is ripe, the leaves will shrivel and die because they are no longer needed. Additionally, the skin of a fully ripe pumpkin is hard to the touch and not easily scratched.
- Nothing says “harvest” like a big pile of bright orange pumpkins.
- Grown on long trailing vines throughout the world, pumpkins are welcome additions to any garden.
Cut the ripe pumpkins off the vine, leaving 3 to 4 inches of growth on the stem. Carry the pumpkin by the base to a tub or sink. Wash the pumpkin with a weak solution of bleach water made by mixing 1 tbsp. of bleach into 1 qt. of water. This will help to reduce bacterial growth on the pumpkin’s surface. Allow the washed pumpkins to air dry.
- Cut the ripe pumpkins off the vine, leaving 3 to 4 inches of growth on the stem.
Transfer any pumpkins that were picked too early to a warm, dry location. Leave them in full sun for two weeks, or until the skin is hard to the touch and any superficial scratches have healed.
Select a storage area that is dark, dry, and generally between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the storage area with clean hay or layers of cardboard. Position the pumpkins in a single layer. Use shelves or netting to create additional layers if necessary.
Leave the pumpkins in storage for up to six months, checking them periodically and removing any that show visible signs of decay. Wash and thoroughly dry any pumpkins may have come into contact with any fruits that have started to rot.
- Transfer any pumpkins that were picked too early to a warm, dry location.
- Leave them in full sun for two weeks, or until the skin is hard to the touch and any superficial scratches have healed.
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References
Tips
- Harvest your pumpkins prior to the first deep frost.
- If desired, pumpkin can also be stored by canning, freezing or drying, though if you choose to freeze pumpkin, the fruit must be cooked first or product is likely to be of inferior quality when thawed.
Warnings
- Do not store pumpkins near apples and pears. These fruits release a chemical as they ripen, which can encourage pumpkin decay.
- Do not place ripe pumpkins directly on to concrete as this will encourage bacterial growth and expedite cellular breakdown which leads to rotting.
Writer Bio
Lisa Parris is a writer and former features editor of "The Caldwell County News." Her work has also appeared in the "Journal of Comparative Parasitology," "The Monterey County Herald" and "The Richmond Daily News." In 2012, Parris was honored with awards from the Missouri Press Association for best feature story, best feature series and best humor series.
