5 Signs a Pumpkin is Ready for Picking, According to Farmers

Pumpkins bring fall cheer, and knowing when they're ripe for picking can ensure you have a festive autumn season. But it's extremely important to harvest pumpkins at the correct time to ensure their quality and longevity.

“Pumpkins picked too early will not have developed the necessary hard skin to protect them during storage," says Jonathan Nardone, a home gardener and blogger at The Real Gardener specializing in vegetable crops, especially cucurbits. "Those left too late may become overripe, leading to a compromised structure and potential rot.”

If you harvest your pumpkins at the right time, they can last two months or more, ushering in the Halloween season in style. Here, plant experts offer their top tips to help you find the right time to harvest your pumpkins and enjoy a colorful fall season. 

Signs a Pumpkin is Ready for Picking

If you’re wondering when to harvest pumpkins, there are some key signs to look for on the skin and leaves.

Rich Color

Your pumpkin should be its full color. “The skin turns its expected shade (often deep orange) and hardens,” says Nardone. “It should resist puncture when pressed with a fingernail."

Matte Skin

Young pumpkins have shiny skin. It’s best to wait until the skin has a dull, matte finish, which means the pumpkin is fully mature. 

Hard Stems and Withering Leaves

According to farmer Steve Jacobsen, owner of the Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch in Solvang, California, another sign to watch for is the canopy dying down.

Pumpkins’ leaves and stems, collectively known as the canopy, protect the pumpkins during their growth. As the pumpkins mature, the canopy starts to go down, exposing the ripe fruits. The stems will be hard, dry, and brown, and the vine's leaves will start to wither. These are all signals that the pumpkins are ready to be harvested.

Tap Test

You can do a tap test on your pumpkin. Nardone says you should hear a hollow sound when you tap the pumpkin. The hollow sound indicates that the pumpkin is ripe and ready to harvest. 

Timing

Usually, you can harvest pumpkins in the fall if they're planted in late spring or early summer. They're generally ready about 90 to 120 days after planting.

Your pumpkin’s variety and the weather conditions can affect harvest time. Pumpkins grow more quickly in warm weather and take longer to ripen in cool conditions. “Heat will speed up the growth, and cold will slow it down,” says Jacobsen.

Perhaps the one thing you shouldn't do is procrastinate—according to Nardone, if pumpkins are left on the vine too long, pumpkins can become susceptible to a variety of issues.

“Pests and diseases may be more likely to attack the overripe fruit, and the pumpkin may rot on the vine, especially if exposed to early frosts or overly damp conditions," Nardone says. "The flesh can become overly soft and less suitable for consumption or carving.” Aim to harvest your pumpkins before the first frost, at the latest.

Curing and Storage Tips

Once you harvest pumpkins, curing and storing them in a dry place will give them the longest shelf life. Curing the pumpkin allows the skin to harden and improves storage life. A warm, sunny place is perfect for this process. 

“Curing pumpkins post-harvest is a critical step to enhance their shelf life and quality,” says Nardone. “It involves keeping the pumpkins in a warm, well-ventilated area for about 10 to 14 days, allowing the skin to fully harden and the fruit to repair any minor damage. This process not only prolongs shelf life but also improves flavor if you're cooking them.”

Once you’ve cured your pumpkins, it’s time to move them to a cool, dry place. Avoid placing them near heat, such as a stove or active fireplace. Pumpkins are best stored in shady areas. “Cool, dry areas are best for storing pumpkins indoors,” Jacobsen says. “If stored in good conditions, pumpkins can last eight or nine months, especially some of the really large pumpkins.”