You know pumpkin is ready to pick when the rind has hardened completely and the skin has turned a deep, solid color.   That’s the short answer, and it’s the one you can trust most.   But let’s go deeper, because knowing when a pumpkin is ready to pick is about more than just a … Read more

You know a pumpkin is ripe when its color has deepened to a rich, solid orange and its rind has hardened to the point that you can’t easily pierce it with your fingernail.   If the skin dents when you press on it, that pumpkin isn’t ripe yet, so leave it on the vine a … Read more

You know a pumpkin is ready when its skin has turned a deep, solid color and it feels hard to the touch.   If you’ve been staring at a big orange orb in your patch and asking yourself how do you know when a pumpkin is ready, the answer comes down to a few simple … Read more

You know a pumpkin is done growing when its rind hardens completely and its color deepens into a rich, solid shade.   At that point, the pumpkin has reached full maturity and will no longer increase in size.   Many growers ask how do you know when a pumpkin is done growing, and the answer … Read more

You know a pumpkin is rotten when its rind feels soft or mushy, it smells unpleasant, and there are visible dark spots or mold growing on the surface.   But here’s the thing—not every pumpkin that looks a little rough is actually rotten, so how do you know if a pumpkin is rotten for sure? … Read more

You know a pumpkin is ripe when its color has deepened into a rich, solid orange and the rind feels hard enough that your fingernail won’t easily pierce it.   If you’ve ever stood in your garden staring at a big orange squash and wondered how do you know if a pumpkin is ripe, you’re … Read more