When to remove a pumpkin from the garden: how to determine the ripeness and ripening time

Autumn is the harvest time for many vegetable crops. Experienced vegetable growers already know, and beginners are interested in when to remove the pumpkin from the garden. If you overexpose a vegetable in the garden or, conversely, hurry up with the collection, you may not recognize the ripe taste of the fruit.

Homemade preserves or culinary dishes are much tastier and more aromatic when made from well-ripened pumpkins.

Pumpkin ripening time: it all depends on the variety

Each variety of vegetable has its own growing season. Therefore, before planting a crop, you need to carefully study the characteristics and description of its variety. Information is often located on the package with seeds. In the same place, the manufacturer gives recommendations regarding the technique of growing and caring for the plant.

There are several factors that affect the timing of pumpkin ripening.

Seed variety can be divided into 3 types: early ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. Depending on this, the timing of the harvest is determined.

In the first group, the fruits ripen in late July or early August. They have a specific delicate taste and aroma. The peel is thinner, so the crop is not stored for a long time. The growing season of the group of early maturing varieties lasts from 92 to 104 days.

The second group includes mid-season types of pumpkin.The fruits are larger, dense, with a hard skin. They are stored for a long time, provided that they do not fall into frost. Harvesting is carried out until the first sub-zero temperature. The growing season of this group ranges from 110 to 120 days.

Late-ripening varieties are larger and stored for a long time, up to 6 months. The growing season of this group of varieties is about 200 days. This type of pumpkin can be harvested at the ripening stage. It perfectly gains taste and juiciness in a plucked state. The characteristic color will tell you when to harvest the fruits of late-ripening varieties. A light orange color is the first sign that the vegetable has gained the right strength.

For large-fruited pumpkins, which require time to develop flavor and juiciness, harvesting times may be extended. From September to mid-October, the fruits are still in the beds.

You need to take the pumpkin out of the garden on time. Fruit retention on stems, like frost, also leads to rapid damage to the crop.

Signs of pumpkin ripeness: when to remove the pumpkin from the garden

Most pumpkin varieties have common signs of ripeness. These include the following indicators:

1. You can pick a pumpkin if its stalk has dried up and acquired a wood structure. The size and thickness of the stem depends on the variety and how large the vegetables themselves are. It is located at the junction of the fruit with the stem. As soon as the pumpkin has gained all the necessary substances and its growing season is over, the stalk begins to dry out and die, turning into a hard, almost wooden tail.
2. A characteristic sign of ripeness is the color of the peel. It acquires, depending on the variety, a light yellow or orange hue. Mid-season varieties, which include Butternut or Wax, do not change their color. They remain green or white even when fully ripe.
3. In most varieties, the signs of maturation are primarily reflected in the density of the peel. It becomes so hard and strong that it is sometimes difficult to cut it.
4. As soon as the pumpkin matures, it will begin to draw all the moisture and juices from the plant. The stems and leaves will gradually wither and dry out. This is a clear sign that the fruit can be plucked.

It is undesirable to store crops with other vegetables and fruits in the same box. Some types of fruits emit ethylene. This gas causes pumpkins to spoil quickly.

Pumpkin ripening and proper storage

Gardeners often face a problem when the pumpkin is not stored for a long time. It is possible that the reason for this situation was non-compliance with the conditions and requirements for storing the crop. To prevent this from happening, you should follow a number of rules:

1. Once the fetus has been removed for storage, it is taken to a dark room where there is no sunlight. Good ventilation in the basement or cellar is important. The vegetable does not tolerate high humidity, so the room should be dry and fresh.
2. You can count on long-term storage only by cutting the fruits from the plant in time. Overexposed and underripe pumpkins are stored for no more than 1-2 months.
3. An important condition is the observance of the temperature regime in the storage. It is necessary to ensure a constant temperature in the room in the range from +7 … 18 ° С.
4. The fruits are laid out on a wooden surface. The main thing is that they do not touch each other. During storage, it is necessary to periodically inspect vegetables for spoilage. A damaged copy is immediately removed from storage.
5. If a pumpkin is spoiled by frost, you will have to use it immediately for cooking. It cannot be stored for a long time. Frozen vegetables quickly become unusable.
6. Fruits lose their taste due to long-term storage, but this does not apply to nutmeg species. In these varieties, the pulp does not lose, but, on the contrary, it gains taste and aroma over time, while maintaining juiciness and sweetness.

Cleaning according to the lunar calendar or according to the exact calculation

Experienced gardeners do all the work on the site according to the lunar calendar. Planting seeds for seedlings, moving seedlings into the ground, and even harvesting have their auspicious days.

The moon has a great, invisible influence on all life on the planet. Plants are also sensitive to its phases.

Practically all gardening is built according to the schedule of the lunar calendar. But every year it changes, and the calculations are carried out in a new way.

Under favorable conditions, pumpkins actively grow and gain their taste. A positive environment includes not only well-executed agricultural technology, but also correctly selected days for planting seeds in the ground, in accordance with the lunar calendar, and a favorable period for harvesting.

Relying solely on the phases of the moon is not worth it, it is important to take into account the climate, season and weather during pumpkin harvesting. Depending on the climatic features of the region, all dates for the collection of fruits may be shifted.

Vegetable growers make accurate calculations based on the growing season declared by the manufacturer.

Advice from an experienced gardener

Experienced gardeners willingly share secrets about when a vegetable should be harvested, you need to harvest before the first frost. It is better to choose a dry and sunny day for this, as it is important that the pumpkins are kept dry.

You need to collect the fruits correctly. The peduncle seems to be scrolled around its axis, thereby sealing its edges. A pumpkin will retain its juiciness longer if the tail is twisted instead of cut.

The variety of fruits is large, and each variety has its own growing season.

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