How to Tell When a Pumpkin Should Be Picked

Many families set out to a pumpkin patch in October to pick the prime pumpkin for their perfect Halloween. The premium time to pick a pumpkin can vary, depending on your region's climate. In parts of the world that experience the first frosts in October, the weather can be used as an indication of when to pick. But other factors play into determining when a pumpkin is ripe. Pumpkins are a versatile vegetable that can be used for cooking or decoration.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Monitor the nighttime temperatures to see if they go below freezing. The prime picking time is after the first couple of frosts.

   • 2

     Notice the color and the firmness of the pumpkin. It should be bright orange and hard.

   • 3

     Knock the pumpkin. If it sounds hollow, the pumpkin is ready to be picked.

   • 4

     Inspect the stock at the stem of the pumpkin. It should be woody and hard.

   • 5

     Put the pumpkin in a greenhouse or in the house for two or three days to cure it. Pumpkins will last for three or four months.