Everything You Wanted to Know About Pumpkins

When the stem starts to twist and dry, or the shell has started to harden, it's most likely time to harvest. Try piercing the shell of the pumpkin with your fingernail. If the shell is hard, your pumpkin is ready to cut from the vine. Leave about 3 inches of the stem on the pumpkin when removing it from the vine.

All pumpkins are hard until cooked. If they are overly hard, they probably aren't ripe yet. The outside color should be deep in color, and they should try to press on the rind with their fingernail. If it is hard and if the skin does not break easily, then it is ripe and ready for harvesting. Another way to tell if the pumpkin is ripe is to slap it and if it "sounds" hollow inside, that is a good indication you're ready to harvest. The skin and stem should also be hard.

How to Plant

Choose a full sun location with 20-30 feet for the vines to grow. Your site also should have good drainage.

Try working some compost into the area where you'll be planting your pumpkins. This will create a nice, rich soil bed.

Plant your seeds 1 - 2 inches deep. Germination usually takes place within 7 - 10 days, and once they do, add a little bit more compost around your seedling. This will help keep weeds down and help to retain moisture.

How to Harvest

When the stem starts to twist and dry, or the shell has started to harden, it's most likely time to harvest.  Try piercing the shell of the pumpkin with your fingernail. If the shell is hard, your pumpkin is ready to cut from the vine. Leave about 3 inches of the stem on the pumpkin when removing it from the vine.

Happy Gardening, 

Arlene Wright- Correll

Home Farm Herbery