You know when a pumpkin is ready to harvest when its rind turns hard, its color deepens to a rich, uniform shade, and the stem starts to dry out and cork over.   If you’ve been babying a pumpkin vine all season, you’re probably eager to know when a pumpkin is ready to harvest before … Read more

You can know if a pumpkin is pollinated by checking whether the female flower has received pollen and whether that flower begins to develop a small fruit at its base.   If pollination was successful, that tiny green bulge will start growing within a few days instead of turning yellow and dropping off.   The … Read more

You know when a pumpkin is ready to pick when the skin has hardened, the color has deepened, and the stem has started to dry out and turn woody.   That’s the short answer, but there’s a little more to it if you want to pick a pumpkin at its absolute best.   If you’ve … Read more

You can know if pumpkin bread is done by inserting a toothpick or skewer into the center and having it come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.   If you’ve been wondering how to know if pumpkin bread is done without cutting it open too early or pulling it out underbaked, this … Read more

You can tell if canned pumpkin is bad by checking for spoilage signs like mold, a sour smell, or bulging packaging.   If you’ve been wondering how to know if canned pumpkin is bad, the answer usually shows up fast once you look and smell it.   Fresh canned pumpkin should look bright orange and … Read more

To keep your pumpkin pie from cracking, you need to focus on gentle baking and slow cooling.   A cracked pumpkin pie is still delicious, but let’s be honest, those fissures across the surface aren’t exactly the picture-perfect dessert you were hoping to show off.   If you’ve been wondering how to keep your pumpkin … Read more