How to Store and Harvest Pumpkins

Last updated: 16.01.2025

Reading time: 4 minutes

Pumpkins are a popular and uncomplicated crop for the hobby garden. If stored correctly, they provide us with pleasure right into the cold season. Find out how to harvest pumpkins and store them correctly in this article.

This Article Contains:

Harvesting Pumpkins: What You Need to Know
Harvest Time: When Are Pumpkins Ready to Harvest?
How to Recognize a Ripe Pumpkin
How Should Pumpkins Be Stored?
Frequently Asked Questions About Pumpkin Storage

Quick Overview

How Are Pumpkins Harvested?

Harvest time: from August at the earliest, usually between September and October
A ripe pumpkin has a woody, brown-colored stem and sounds hollow when tapped against it
Harvesting: cut off the top of the stem with a sharp knife to prevent infection

How to Store a Pumpkin:

Allow fresh pumpkins to dry for 2 - 3 days in a warm, dry place
Store in a cool, well-ventilated room at 10 - 15 °C/50 - 59 ° F
for better air circulation, store pumpkins hanging above the ground in nets or boxes
Alternatively: freezing, compote, preserving

Shelf life: Depending on the variety, 3 to 6 months (winter pumpkins)

Harvesting Pumpkins: What You Need to Know

Summer squashes and the first zucchinis can be harvested 4 to 6 weeks after planting or 6 to 8 weeks after direct sowing. The first individual fruits of these plants should not be allowed to grow too large. Otherwise, you run the risk of your plant running out of energy to form new flowers into fruit. Winter pumpkins, such as the spaghetti squash, should be harvested before the first night frost. Even light frosts will severely damage the tropical plant and the foliage will die.

Harvest Time: When Are Pumpkins Ready to Harvest?

Pumpkins are in season in the fall and are used in a variety of ways. Depending on the variety, pumpkins are ready to harvest from mid-August at the earliest. However, most varieties are only harvested between September and October. The right time for harvesting depends on the pumpkin variety and its use. However, all pumpkins are generally harvested before the first frosts.

Want to Know More About Pumpkins?

In our library you will find information on the individual varieties with cultivation periods, tips on planting and harvesting. You will also find good and bad neighbors to help you plan a mixed crop.

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Ripe pumpkin is harvested — You can recognize a ripe pumpkin by its brown, woody stem.

How to Recognize a Ripe Pumpkin

You can recognize a ripe pumpkin by its variety-specific colouring and the woody, brown-discoloured stem. At the end of the season, the leaves of the pumpkin plant die off and the stem becomes woody. You can also tap it with your fist. When it is ripe, it usually has a hollow sound. Once the pumpkins have reached their final size, place them on a dry surface, e.g. a stone, and leave them to ripen on the plant. To harvest it, cut off the top of the stem with a sharp knife. It is important that the stem remains attached to the fruit so that no bacteria or other pathogens get into the fruit. This applies to all damaged areas on the pumpkin, which is why you should handle the pumpkins very carefully during and after harvesting. Otherwise you risk rot.

How Should Pumpkins Be Stored?

The fresh pumpkins are first stored dry and warm in a room or greenhouse until the skin has hardened and can no longer be damaged with a fingernail. Once the skin is hard, the pumpkin berries must be stored in a cool, well-ventilated storage room at 10 - 15 ° C/50 - 59 ° F. For long-term storage, the skin must not have any scratches or dents and the stem base should also be undamaged. It is best to hang them in nets or boxes above the ground to ensure good air circulation. Depending on the variety, they can be stored for around three to six months (some varieties even longer). Another alternative is freezing. This method is also suitable for summer squashes and you can enjoy your harvest for a very long time. The fruit is cut into small pieces, blanched for two minutes and then frozen. To use the pumpkins again later, steam them unthawed. As the pumpkin harvest is often plentiful, you can also pickle pumpkins or process them into compote.

Storing pumpkin — Leave the pumpkins to dry out in a dry place before storing them.

We wish you every success and a rich pumpkin harvest! If you have any questions or comments, please write to us at [email protected].

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Author

Marie

Marie is an agronomist. She is particularly interested in the sustainable and organic cultivation of vegetables and other plants. In her own garden, she gained experience and likes to try things out to learn from nature. She is particularly interested in the values and principles of permaculture, in order to contribute not only to the well-being of nature, but also to the well-being of people and future generations.

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Harvested and cleaned and sanitised my first Loofah. 5 more to go lol! Millions of seeds, so I guess I'll be growing more next spring 🙃

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Unbelievably, I've ignored the tomato plants for 2 weeks now and haven't watered them either, the last 2 nights there was frost. The plants are in buckets at the edge of the carport, just under the roof, next to a windbreak. And what can I say, even the taste is still ok, not a revelation but ok. In November. I'm thrilled - thank you nature.

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Yesterday I harvested horseradish. What can I say, I also had to make some soup meat. I'm very excited to see how spicy it will be later 🥵😋 Do you have any ideas on what else I can make from the root apart from horseradish?

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