Harvesting and Storing Pumpkins Horticulture Harvesting and Storing Pumpkins Pumpkins are one of the fun crops in the vegetable garden. Pumpkins make delicious pies and other desserts. To insure a long life, pumpkins must be harvested and stored properly. Pumpkins can be harvested when they have developed a deep, uniform orange color and the rind is hard.
Pumpkins can remain in the garden through a light, vine-killing frost.
A light frost will not damage the pumpkins themselves. However, all mature pumpkins should be harvested before temperatures drop into the mid to low 20's. Green, immature pumpkins will not turn orange after a killing frost. When harvesting pumpkins, handle them carefully to avoid cuts and bruises. Cut the pumpkins off the vine with a sharp knife or pair of lopping shears.