When he's not writing poetry or political articles, Ralph fills his time by researching various topics that are influencing society today.Additionally, the time spent picking through huge piles of misshapen or discolored fruit no longer seemed productive.I still remember the first time I planted the seeds; even though they only produced a few orange beauties, I was in Halloween heaven.Each successive year I planted more and more until one day, after driving by my local pick-your-own pumpkin farm, I realized that my patch at home was legitimate.I share a few each year with the neighborhood kids and carve a couple more, but most get peeled, cubed, and vacuum-sealed; my wife makes pies and soup throughout the winter, which taste incredible when you utilize fresh fruit.If you're a gardener, then you know the feeling; when you step outside in the early morning and see the crystalline sheen of an unexpected frost on your car windows.The thick wide-sweeping sea of leaves from yesterday is now a dilapidated field of shriveled clumps of unhealthy-looking, greenish matter atop weakened stalks.At this point, I recommend removing ripened pumpkins to storage as it will allow the weakened vines to concentrate on the remaining unripened fruit.Monitor the situation daily and remove fruit as it ripens or it gets too cold to continue.You'll have a high chance of getting the partially orange pumpkins ripe if the days are still warm and sunny.If it's really cold, then you can place partially ripened pumpkins in a window sill or behind a glass door and hope for the best.Ripe pumpkins can be kept for an extended period of time, provided they have good air circulation and constant temperatures.A wooden pallet works great for storage as it allows air to move freely around the pumpkins, provided they aren't touching one another.This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.Answer: Yes - water heavily during the day an evening frost is anticipated and cover lightly - otherwise you’ll lose the leaves. .
Curing Pumpkins and Winter Squash
The final transition into autumn is a special time of year, with trees taking on their colourful hues, temperatures developing a refreshing crispness and the vegetable garden giving one last flourish of productivity before it goes quiet over winter.For me, the undoubted highlight of all this is when the large umbrella-like leaves of pumpkins and winter squash finally die back to reveal the plump fruits beneath.Pumpkins and winter squashes capture the flavour and excitement of autumn but if you want to be able to enjoy this weighty bonanza for longer than a few weeks you will need to cure your home-grown fruits.Do it properly and you can expect fruits to stay in top form for at least three months and as long as six, comfortably taking you to the first harvests of next spring.Other ways of telling that the moment of truth has arrived is to slap the fruit (it should sound hollow) and to push your thumbnail into the skin, which should dent but not puncture.Once the fruits are cured they can be given one final treatment before they take to the storage shed; a polish of olive oil applied with a cloth to create a moisture-tight finish completes the job.Like many fruits and root vegetables stored for the colder months, pumpkins and winter squash prefer a well-ventilated, dry place.This means you’ve a choice between keeping them in an out-of-the-way outbuilding or shed (provided it’s frost free), or lined up like plump sentries in a spare room in the house.Either way, keep the fruits raised up off hard surfaces on racks or wire mesh cushioned with a thick layer of newspaper or straw.If you’ve lots of pumpkins or squashes to store don’t be tempted to stack them up – this will generate pressure points and will reduce airflow around the fruits. .
What Happens to Pumpkins When it Gets Cold?
Stored properly at temperatures between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, pumpkins can last up to three months after harvest.When planting seeds directly into the garden, the recommended soil temperature is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.Honeybees fertilize the flowers through pollination, which causes the vines to produce pumpkins.Cool weather, below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, diminishes bee activity that can result in smaller, badly shaped fruit and a low yield.Temperatures that fall to the teens and bring frost are devastating to pumpkin vines.The cold and frost freezes the cellular structure inside the vine and the pumpkin will die for lack of nourishment.As pumpkins ripen, their rind turns orange in color and hardens.Leaving a stem gives added protection against rot-causing microorganisms from entering the pumpkin during storage.Place cardboard between the bottom of the fruit and the floor or shelving area to prevent staining. .
How to Keep Your Jack O'Lantern Looking Dapper Longer
The other day, I called Thomas Andres, a researcher at the New York Botanical Garden, with a clear agenda.And, in the first five minutes of speaking with him, the man had me convinced that the pumpkin is a work of art, even before you get to the carving.Squash breeders have cultivated five species, Cucurbita pepo included, to fit our notions of the perfect pumpkin.Cultivators also select for a bright orange fruit and nice, dark green stems.“But once you carve them, there are a few tricks to making them last a little bit longer.” You can squirt lemon juice on the exterior of the pumpkin, for instance.Lemon juice, as you may know, prevents the browning of fruits, such as apples and avocados (and pumpkins!).Staff are refrigerating some of the sculptures’ removable parts, at times, to keep the carvings fresh during the ten days they are on exhibition.“As nice as candles in jack o’lanterns are, they really do shorten the lifespan of the pumpkin since the heat from the flame ends up cooking the flesh,” says Andres. .
How to Keep Pumpkins From Rotting and Ruining Your Fall Front
Either way, make sure to choose a pumpkin with no bruises, smooshy spots, nicks, or cuts, which will reduce their lifespan (especially if you want to display them, not eat them)."Pumpkins like slightly more irrigation at the flowering stage for proper fruit development," says Patty Buskirk, lead plant breeder and horticulturist at Seeds by Design.Pumpkins set lots of flowers then drop the fruit the plant can't sustain to maturity.If you have loads of problems with rotting fruit, try planting in raised bed planters or hills about 3 to 4 feet wide next year.When the pumpkins are set, place the fruits up on the tops of the planters or beds, which allows the extra water to run off.In smaller gardens, you can grow pumpkins vertically on a trellis or fence, providing additional support for heavy fruit by making little hammocks from bean or pea netting.Remove every bit of pulp so you won't attract any bugs, then wipe down all surfaces, inside and out, after you finish your masterpiece.Keep your carved pumpkin out of direct sunlight and refrigerate it for up to ten days when not on display, especially if you live in a warmer climate.It's not proven, but many people say applying petroleum jelly to the carved edges of your pumpkin helps retain moisture and prevent shriveling.Weather that's too cold can lead to decay, so avoid sticking pumpkins in the freezer or exposing them to frost.This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. .
