When is the right time to harvest pumpkins?

Photo: Pixabay
If you decided to plant pumpkins for the very first time, how do you know it's time to harvest them?
Pumpkin is ready to harvest when:
  • its rind is hard (you can't easily damage it with your fingernail)
  • its stem got brown/dried up
  • you can hear a hollow sound when you tap on the fruit
  • its reached desired size and color
Photo: Pixabay
Please note, that the sizes and colors may vary depending on the pumpkin variety.
Sizes and colors.
For example:
Mature Crown Prince Squash is blue or grey-colored. Medium-sized or big.
Ripe Green-Striped Cushaw is green and white. Medium-sized.
Ready to harvest Goblin Eggs Gourds are green & yellow, or green & white. They're small.
Big Moon pumpkin is bright-orange and huge (up to 250 lbs!).
Baby Boo pumpkins are small (approx 2" tall) and white.
Crown Prince Squash
Goblin Egg Gourds, Photo: Pixabay
Stems.
Please note:
Some pumpkin stems remain dark-green when the fruit is ripe. Examples: Wolf Pumpkin, Snack Jack, Cinnamon Girl Pumpkin.


Photos, from the top: Wolf Pumpkin (photo credit-Johnny’s Selected Seeds) & Snack Jack (photo credit-Pixabay)
Time of the month.

Usual pumpkin harvest time is late September or early October (before the first frost). You can read more about it here: How do I plant pumpkin seeds and when?


How to harvest a pumpkin?

Cut pumpkin from the vine leaving 4" (10cm) of the stem. Use a sharp knife or garden cutters. Make as clean-cut as possible, don't try to tear off the fruit from the vine.

Happy Harvesting!

Comments