How to Tell When A Pumpkin is Ripe in 6 Easy Steps
By Hannah Healy
Updated July 24, 2024
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Growing gourds can be tricky, but knowing how to tell when a pumpkin is ripe for harvesting doesn’t have to be! Is it ready to pick when it turns orange? Does it have to be big and hard to be ready? There are plenty of signs to look for!
Learn about the most common signs to find out when your pumpkin is ready to be picked so you can transform it into a creamy pie or a spooky jack-o’-lantern!
What are the Different Types of Pumpkins?
Cucurbita is the genus that brings us pumpkins, squashes, and some gourds—the stars of fall! Why stick to just the classic orange pumpkin when you can explore so many cool varieties of pumpkin?
- Atlantic Giant Pumpkins
- Autumn Gold Pumpkins
- Baby Bear Pumpkins
- Big Max Pumpkins
- Blue Prince Pumpkins
- Cinderella’s Carriage Pumpkins
- Dickinson Pumpkin
- Captain Jack Pumpkin
- Pie Pumpkins
- Traditional Orange Pumpkins
How Can You Tell When a Pumpkin is Ripe?
Knowing when a pumpkin is ripe is key to getting the best out of your harvest.
Pick it too early, and it might not have a strong rind, making it prone to rot and disease. Plus, it won’t taste as good or be as big. Leave it too long on the vine, and the rind could soften, attracting pests and causing decay. Early light frost can also damage your pumpkin and cut its shelf life short.
So, keep an eye out for these signs to ensure your pumpkin is just right!
1. Count the Days
Pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes, and they don’t all ripen at the same speed. Some smaller pumpkins are ready to harvest in 90 to 100 days, while others take longer, up to 125 days, to mature. To have them ready by early October, the best time to plant your pumpkins is between May and June. For slow-maturing varieties, start in May, and for the quicker ones, go for mid-June.
Keep track of how long your pumpkin plants have been growing, and check the days-to-maturity on your seed packet to determine the right time to harvest your pumpkins!
2. Observe the Color
If your gourd turns orange all over, it’s probably ripe! But good news. If it’s not fully orange—some pumpkins are ripe even when they still have a green color.
While a bright orange is a common sign of ripeness, it’s not the only one. Some pumpkins are naturally white, green, or even striped. If you’re growing a unique variety, it’s a good idea to keep your seed packet handy to know what mature color to expect.
3. Stem Check
When a pumpkin is ripe, its stem should feel hard and sturdy. Just remember, never pick a pumpkin up by the stem—it might break off and cause the pumpkin to rot faster.
If the pumpkin stem feels firm and is turning brown and dry, it’s a sign that the vine is winding down and not sending as many nutrients to the pumpkin. You can let the vine die off naturally after the first frost before picking your pumpkin, but don’t wait too long!
4. Fingernail Test
To check if your pumpkin is ripe, press your fingernail gently into the skin. If it’s mature, the pumpkin will resist the scratch. If it’s hard, it’s a good sign, and you’re good to harvest! If your nail easily leaves a mark, it’s too early to pick, and the pumpkin might rot quickly. Try the thumbnail test on a less visible spot on the pumpkin to avoid leaving any marks.
5. Knock, Knock
Give your pumpkin a good thump, and listen closely. As a general rule, a perfectly ripe pumpkin should make a hollow sound. Knock it gently, and if you hear that hollow thump, it means it’s ready!
6. The Bottom of the Pumpkin Isn’t Soft and Mushy
A firm bottom is a good indicator of a healthy pumpkin. A soft or mushy bottom on a pumpkin is a red flag! It could mean the pumpkin is starting to rot from the inside. Catch this early, and you might save the rest of your pumpkins. And if you’re carving it, take a closer look and make sure the bottom is flat so your pumpkin doesn’t roll around.
Pumpkin Gardening Tips
Growing pumpkins is a fun activity, but it’s not always easy! Make sure you plant and harvest at the right time in the right conditions, then prep it for storage so it lasts longer.
Pumpkin Planting
- Make sure you have the right conditions to get your seeds to sprout to grow healthy pumpkins.
- If you live in a cooler climate, choose a fast-maturing pumpkin variety and wait until the soil is at least 60°F before you start planting.
- In places that do not have a long growing season, start seeds indoors 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost and move the seedlings outside once threats of hard frosts are gone.
- To help your pumpkins ripen, fertilize them with a high-phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once the flowers appear. This will boost flower production and fruit growth.
Pumpkin Harvesting
- Choose a dry day for harvest time—wet pumpkins are more likely to rot.
- To pick the pumpkins, use a sharp knife to cut them from the vine, leaving 3-4 inches of stem. This clean cut helps prevent rot.
- Make sure to keep a good length of stem on the pumpkin and avoid using it as a handle. Damaging the stem can lead to rot, so handle your pumpkins gently and carefully!
How To Store Pumpkins
- Pumpkins usually last 30 to 90 days. For long-term storage, wash them gently in a mixture of one tablespoon of bleach and a gallon of water. This helps kill any bacteria that could cause them to rot.
- Let your pumpkin dry completely before storing it. The best way is to keep it in a cool, dry place to keep it fresh as long as possible.
Unique Pumpkin Recipes
We all know about pumpkin pie for the holiday table, but there are many other fun ways to work pumpkin puree into food!
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
These special pumpkin whoopie pies are a great festive treat for the fall season. With soft pumpkin spice cookies on the outside and creamy, rich filling inside, they’ll be a hit for a party or potluck!
Spiced Pumpkin Bread
Autumn is all about being warm and cozy, and there’s no better way to do that than with a hot beverage. This spiced pumpkin bread goes perfectly with that morning cup of coffee or afternoon hot cider. It’s a dense, moist bread with pumpkin spice flavors and a light icing drizzle on top.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Pumpkin isn’t just for baking! Its creamy, pureed texture goes great in a pumpkin pie smoothie, especially when you add that quintessential cinnamon spice to it. If you want a wholesome breakfast that tastes like pumpkin pie, try this smoothie!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Pumpkins
Is Pumpkin a Fruit or a Vegetable?
Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween decorations—they’re a bit more interesting! If we’re looking at it botanically, pumpkins are technically fruits because they come from the seed-bearing part of flowering plants. But in the kitchen, since they’re not sweet and are more savory, we think of them as vegetables.
Just like butternut, acorn, crown prince, and kabocha, pumpkins are part of the winter squash family. They’re grown for eating, decorating, and even as livestock feed. Pumpkins have hard, grooved orange rinds and grow on long pumpkin vines, sometimes weighing over 2,000 pounds! Most are yellowish to orange, but some have white rinds with tough, ridged stems. These unique fruits are in season from October to December and come in many colors, shapes, and sizes.
What is the Best Type of Pumpkin for Cooking?
For recipes like classic pumpkin pie, you’ll want sweeter pumpkin varieties to make into the perfect puree. The best variety for this is sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins, which are much smaller than those used for jack-o-lanterns. These types also have more specific names, like Cinderella, Autumn Gold, Fairy Tale, Baby Pam, or Ghost Rider. Don’t be alarmed if they look different from traditional pumpkins–their flavor will make up for it!
How Are Pumpkins Cured?
The curing process makes pumpkins’ skins tougher and less likely to rot. To cure them, set them in the full sun for about ten days. Direct sunlight helps harden their skin and keeps them safe from decay.
Will Pumpkins Ripen if Picked Green?
Yes, pumpkins can ripen and turn orange even after being picked, even if they’re still green! While it’s best to let them ripen on the vine for the best flavor for your favorite fall soup or delicious pumpkin pies—you can still help a green pumpkin become orange. If your pumpkins are green and you want them ready for Halloween, place them in the sun. Make sure to turn any green spots toward the sun and rotate the pumpkin if it’s entirely green. This way, your pumpkin will gradually turn a deep, bright orange!
