How Long Do Pumpkins Last Off The Vine And When Should You Harvest Them?

As soon as autumn hits, pumpkins take over grocery store shelves in all their orange glory. But there's nothing like harvesting pumpkins yourself this fall to make your season complete. To avoid any of your hard work going to waste, it's important to harvest at the right time, ideally as soon as the pumpkins are mature. They can last up to three months when properly stored.

Pumpkins have been a beloved seasonal food in the U.S. for thousands of years, and there are hundreds of different varieties to choose from in different sizes, colors, and shapes. The exact harvesting timeline varies based on the variety and climate, but you'll know when it's time to pick when the pumpkin has turned a deep, solid color and has a hard rind. Test the hardness of the rind by poking it with a fingernail — if it doesn't dent or puncture, it is ready to pick. Also look for stem "corking," when the stem near the pumpkin starts to shrink and turns from green to a striped woody brown.

While pumpkins can ripen off the vine under the right conditions, it's better to harvest them on a dry day when they're fully ready — no sooner, no later. Careful harvesting helps yield you longer-lasting pumpkins that you can enjoy throughout the season. To get mature pumpkins in time for Halloween, you must have planted your pumpkins at the best time of year: from late May in the northern U.S. and from early July in the deep South.

Pumpkins last after you harvest them for about a month at room temperature and two to three months in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated storage area. You can take certain steps to help your pumpkins stay in good condition for as long as possible. First, when harvesting, leave 3 to 4 inches of stem on the pumpkin; this continues to provide some nutrients to the fruit. Handle your pumpkins gently, and don't carry them around by the stem. Although they seem tough, they're easily bruised, which affects shelf life.

One option is to "cure" the pumpkins by keeping them in a warm spot (about 85 degrees Fahrenheit) for 10 days after harvesting. The rinds will harden further and any cuts or scratches will heal, preventing infection and keeping them fresh for longer. Curing also intensifies the flavor of the pumpkin.

Unsurprisingly, carving pumpkins shortens their lifespan drastically. They will begin rotting within a week or so of becoming jack-o-lanterns. It's best to wait to carve your pumpkins until later in the season. If you have to carve them sooner, consider not cutting through the rind all the way and leaving the stem on to stave off rotting for longer.