Bees play matchmaker with the flowers, doing all the work of pollinating during early growth. Those plants which are pollinated grow strong, while those that aren't, usually shrivel and die within the first two months of growth. As the pumpkin fruit reaches grapefruit size, vines are pruned to help strengthen the plant, allowing it to thrive. Some gardeners also prune the fruit at this time, selecting which pumpkins look the healthiest, and removing the others from the vine. As the seasons begin to change in late August, and temperatures dip to frost level.
Pumpkins are at their peak when they are deep yellow or bright red.
Once picked, pumpkins are set aside to cure in the sun for up to 10 days. Pumpkins are graded by size, variety and weight. Most U.S. pumpkins bought by manufacturers are puree'd, treated and canned for use as a pie filling. Field pumpkins are often sold as Jack O' Lanterns in the fall and fed to livestock. In Europe, pumpkins are grown only as a vegetable.