How to Make Sure Your Pumpkins Look Amazing All Season

Pumpkin season is finally here!! If you’re like me, you absolutely love filling your front porch with a variety of different colored and shaped pumpkins. Big ones, small ones, bumpy ones… But there’s nothing worse than bringing your pumpkins home from the patch, only to have them start rotting a week later!

I’ve been growing pumpkins on our farm for about 8 years, and my husband started even before that. I’ve seen it all, and I’ve got your back. Some issues aren’t easily avoidable, and all pumpkins will rot. But with these tips you can slow that process down to hopefully get your pumpkins to last the entire season.

Pick A Good Pumpkin

Picking a good pumpkin from the start is the number one thing you can do to ensure your pumpkins last as long as possible. What exactly does that mean?

• Look for pumpkins with a strong stem attached. The stem is the lifeline to the pumpkin, and when it rots, it starts the process of the whole thing rotting.
• This also means: don’t carry your pumpkin by the stem! This weakens the bond between stem and pumpkin – and let’s just pretend it doesn’t break off and you drop it in the middle of the field (been there, done that) – the weakened stem starts the rotting process that much sooner.
• Avoid buying pumpkins with holes or scratches in them. Look over the entire pumpkin to make sure the skin looks good. Small holes that haven’t healed over allow bacteria to enter the pumpkin – which of course leads to rotting. Scratches and dents that have clearly healed over should be fine.
• Feel around for soft or mushy spots. Those are a clear indication that rotting has started.
• Look for clipped stems. Ones that have been ripped off the vine are more prone to damage.

Ensure Safe Transport

Don’t let your new pumpkins roll around in your vehicle getting bumps and bruises along the way. Keep them safe and secured, buckle them in if you have to, and don’t make sudden stops. Take them out of the car as soon as you get home so they don’t overheat, and put them in a cool, dry, place out of direct sunlight.

Keep Your Pumpkin Stem Intact

Yep, I am talking about stems again…. because they are very important in keeping your pumpkin healthy. Once you bring your pumpkin home, continue to take care of that stem. Always move them around by grabbing the fruit itself, not by tugging on the stem. I know it seems like a great handle, but trust me on this. It’s not worth the convenience.

Clean Your Pumpkins

Pumpkins rot when bacteria enters the fruit. This can happen through holes in the skin, or through that stem. One thing you can do to prevent this is to clean your pumpkins. There are a lot of sites that recommend bleach, I personally use vinegar or Theives cleaner to avoid the harsh chemicals. You can soak them in a tub of your cleaning solution if you’d like, or I usually just spray them down and wipe them with a towel.

Don’t Let Pumpkins Freeze … Or Get Too Hot

Depending on where you live, you might need to monitor the weather a bit. Yes they can handle some heat, but too much will cause rotting, especially if they are in direct sunlight.

A bigger issue I have in Minnesota, is the freezing of my pumpkins. A light frost is usually fine, but with a hard freeze, the flesh of your pumpkin changes and starts to rot. White pumpkins are especially vulnerable to this, and their skin will turn brown or yellow after even a light frost. To be safe, when nighttime temps drop below 32 degrees, bring those puppies indoors or cover with a sheet if it won’t get too bad.

Protect Your Pumpkins From Pests

Yes I mean watch for bugs trying to eat your pumpkin – but I also mean critters. Squirrels for example LOVE pumpkins. I’ve also heard of raccoons snacking on them at night. Just be aware of your neighborhood, and perhaps bring them inside at night if you think you might have an issue.

Don’t Carve Your Pumpkins Until You’re Ready

Once you carve your pumpkin, you open it up to bacteria. Rotting starts to happen right away. You can try spraying the inside with your cleaning solution, and storing it in the fridge, but just know you’ve only got a few days (to a week if you are diligent about refrigerating and keeping bacteria out) once you’ve carved it. Our tradition is to carve ours on October 31st.

I hope with these tips you are able to enjoy your pumpkins all season long. If you’re in Southern Minnesota, we would love to see you out at our pumpkin patch The Little Green Wagon this fall and I’ll help you pick out a good one! You can read about how we got started with our small farm and growing pumpkins here.