We can all agree that pumpkins are the unofficial mascots of autumn, right? From pumpkin homewares to pumpkin-spiced lattes, you just can’t escape them. And if you have one of these winter squashes growing in your garden, it’s a good idea to know when to harvest pumpkins.
Yes, whether you’ve chosen to grow your own pumpkins to make your famous pumpkin soup or you want to give your Halloween decorating ideas a home-grown touch, one thing you need to know is that timing is everything. For starters, you need to know when to plant pumpkin seeds. Then, you need to know when to pick them off the vine…
But if you’re staring blankly at your pumpkins and wondering whether they’re ready to be picked or not, we’ve got you covered. Below is the ultimate guide on when to harvest pumpkins - from the general time frame to the ‘thump test’ that will tell you whether it’s ripe once and for all.
One thing you might already know about growing your own fruit and veg is that when your produce is ripe… it’s ready to be harvested. And it won’t hang around for long.
That’s the reason why pumpkins are such a quintessential symbol of Halloween - because their harvest time falls at the same time of year as the spooky holiday.
As Morris Hankinson, Managing Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries, confirms, ‘If you’ve grown your own pumpkins, it’s a satisfying job snipping them from the vine and carrying home ready to make pumpkin pie and soup. Usually, pumpkins will be ready to harvest from late September to the end of October.’
However, it’s important to note that this isn’t a black-and-white answer and could vary depending on the weather and when you planted them.
Steve Chilton, garden expert from LeisureBench, says the picking period can stretch to early November. He also adds, ‘In the UK, pumpkins might grow slower than they do in warmer climates abroad, simply because of the colder weather.’
Petar Ivanov, gardening expert at Fantastic Gardeners, shares a more analytical but fail-proof approach to knowing when to harvest your pumpkins. ‘Most pumpkin varieties require a certain number of days to mature from the time the seeds were planted and this maturity period can range from 75 to 125 days.'
'It's recommended to count the days from when you planted the seeds or transplanted seedlings to estimate when your pumpkins will be ready,' Petar explains.
How do you know when a pumpkin is ready to pick?
If you get to the traditional harvesting period and you’re unsure whether your pumpkin is actually ready for picking, there are a few things you can do to check.
1. Inspect the colour
Although pumpkins aren’t all orange, most people choose to grow orange pumpkins at home - and the pumpkin’s colour is the first indicator of its ripeness. Remember, we are looking for that signature vibrant hue we know and love.
‘First of all, is the pumpkin the colour that it should be?,' asks garden expert Steve. 'It should be a bright orange, anything less and the pumpkin likely isn't ready to be picked just yet.'
2. Check the stem
The look of the stem and the vine it is on should also give you a hint as to whether it’s ready or not. For pumpkins, bendy is no good.
Petar explains, ‘The stem of a ripe pumpkin will start to dry out and become brittle near the point where it attaches to the vine. As the pumpkins mature, the vines that are attached to them will begin to dry out and wither. This is another sign that the pumpkins are close to being ready for harvest.'
3. Touch the skin
Now we’re going to get handsy with your pumpkin. The first test you can perform is pressing your fingernail against the skin to check whether the fruit has developed a hard outer layer.
‘You can test it yourself by attempting to pierce the skin with your fingernail,' suggests Jack Sutcliffe, co-founder of Power Sheds. 'You shouldn’t be able to puncture through it but create a dent in the skin.'
4. Do the thump test!
No, we don’t want you to beat up your produce, but doing the thump test is a great way to know when to harvest pumpkins.
‘Give the pumpkin a gentle tap or thump,' explains Petar. 'If it sounds hollow and deep, it's likely ripe. However, if the sound is dull and shallow, it might still need more time on the vine.'
Make sure you don’t leave this test too late, though, as this can affect how long pumpkins last.
FAQs
Can you leave a pumpkin on the vine too long?
Yes, you can! That’s why knowing when to harvest pumpkins is so crucial. As well as picking it too early and being left with unripe produce, you can also leave pumpkins on the vine for too long, which can lead to spoiling of the fruit.
‘Knowing when a pumpkin is ready for picking is a crucial factor to make sure that you harvest your produce at its peak ripeness,' says gardening expert Petar Ivanov, gardening expert at Fantastic Gardeners. 'Otherwise, an overripe pumpkin will show signs of deterioration. That's why it's always better to harvest a bit earlier rather than later.'
And given the fact that its harvesting period falls at such a late time of the year, one cannot rule out the possibility of extreme weather conditions, which are no good for a pumpkin.
‘In regions with frost, it's important to harvest your pumpkins before the first frost arrives because it can damage the pumpkins' skins and lead to premature spoilage,' adds Petar. 'Keep an eye on your local weather forecast and plan your harvest accordingly.'
What happens if I pick my pumpkin too early?
Although it’s better to pick pumpkins too early rather than too late, picking too late can have a knock-on effect on your produce. Generally, unripe pumpkins will taste bitter or completely flavourless (if you plan on eating them) or won’t last as long (if you plan on decorating with them).
In fact, they may become mouldy or shrivel up within just a few days of picking because they are not fully mature. If you are growing pumpkins with the intention of collecting the seeds and growing more next year, you may also find that the seeds aren’t viable for such a process.
So, it’s best to know exactly when to harvest pumpkins so you get it just right.
