Tips On How To Harvest Pumpkins

Pumpkins which are also loosely referred to as winter squashes are members of the Cucurbita genus.  Popular species of the Cucurbita genus include: C. Pepo, C. Maxima and the C. Moschata species.  To determine proper times of for harvesting pumpkins and winter squashes one must consider the species and variety.

 

Members of the C. Pepo species include miniature sized orange pumpkin varieties, such as the Jack Be Little that can be as little as a pound or varieties like large field pumpkins such as the Gold Rush.  Some large field pumpkin varieties can grow to as much as 100 lbs.  On the lower end, smaller members of the C. Pepo species can harvest from seed to maturity in as little as 75 days.  On the upper range, larger varieties will harvest in as much as 115 days or more.  For the orange, field pumpkin varieties of the C. Pepo species, look for obtaining as much of the deep orange, white or color of the variety to develop in the field prior to cutting off the vine.

 

C. Maxima species members include smaller pumpkin varieties such as the Lumina which is white in color and might average around 8 to 10 lbs in weight while harvesting in about 105 days.  The largest C. Maxima variety is the Atlantic Giant of which the current world is over 1,800 lbs.  For these large Atlantic Giants you can expect the fruit to mature for harvest in 150 or more days.  For C. Maxima species members, just like for C. Pepo’s look for a full development of color in the pumpkin fruit and for very large fruits netting of fruit surface such as with a muskmelon can occur.

 

Pumpkin varieties belonging to the C. Moschata species include the Fairytale and Long Island Cheese varieties.  While these varieties have a sweet flesh great for baking, they do harvest in a longer period of time.  In general, these varieties will harvest in no less than 120 days for smaller fruits and as much as 140 days for larger pumpkin fruit.  These fruits will range in weight from 6 to 30 lbs and at maturity should have a deep tan color, sometimes spotted with green or can have a very light purple color.  At fruit maturity, the plant vines and stems will dry out and become wood like in color.

 

These time frames for harvest dates should be considered as a minimum for when fruits will become mature and be ready for picking.  For this reason be sure to record and take note of when pumpkin seeds or transplants are planted.  You will expect in general that upon maturity pumpkin fruit skin will become very hard such that it could not be easily punctured.  Also as fruit matures, vines and leaves will begin to become dry and begin to die off as the plant is nearing the end of its life cycle.  As the time frame for pumpkin harvesting approaches, watch the fruits periodically so that when ready pumpkins are removed from the vines and not left in the field longer than is necessary.  In late summer and early autumn, there are many harmful insect pests and diseases present in your garden usually in great numbers that will target pumpkin fruit.

 

When cutting pumpkins from the vine, try to leave as much stem on the pumpkin as possible as this will help the pumpkin to last longer and prevent disease from getting to the pumpkin at the stem location.  C. Maxima varieties are know as soft stem varieties and sometimes (especially if the plant was less healthy and diseased) the pumpkin stems will begin to prematurely decay starting at the stem tip working its way to the pumpkin.  Once the stem has rotted away the pumpkin will soon follow.  Sometimes cutting a long stem will buy you some time in a manner of speaking.

 

Plan on harvesting pumpkins before the first frost of the season.  Not only will pumpkin plants not last a frost but neither will pumpkin fruit.  Pumpkins exposed to below freezing conditions will begin to decay quickly.  

 

RESOURCES / REFERENCES:

 Ron Wolford, Unit Educator, Urban Horticulture and Environment; Drusilla Banks

Extension Specialist, Food Science and Nutrition Programming

Watch Your Garden Grow, Pumpkin; University of Illinois Extension

Retrieved from: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/pumpkin.cfm

 

B. Rosie Lerner and Michael N. Dana, Originally authored by Juliann Chamberlain

Growing Cucumbers, Melons, Squash, Pumpkins and Gourds; Department of Horticulture, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service

Retrieved from: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-8.pdf

 

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Pumpkin and Squash Production Fact sheet (March 2000); ISSN 1198-712X; Agdex #: 256; Prepared by OMAFRA staff

Retrieved from: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/00-031.htm

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