Pumpkins ready??

[jpcook]

Hello,

I am a new member and it is my first year growing some pumpkins. I'm not sure exactly when to harvest. I've ready various threads but thought the best thing would be to attach a picture to see what the experts think :-)

My doubt is, it is already very big and sounding hollow but I understand I should wait until it is orange and the surrounding plant has died off a bit. I'm not sure which type it is exactly.

Thanks for any advice.
Jon

[Thelma Sanders]

They change colour as they ripen, usually to orange, but not always - keep an eye on it for colour changes.
Other ways to tell is by looking at the stem/handle of the pumpkin - they usually get a bit corky looking when the pumpkin is ripe, and the skin gets hard.

[Snadger]

Are you growing these in the UK? I have one the size of a grapefruit at the moment!

[PyreneesPlot]

I have some that are pretty big but they're all still green and soft to the touch. I sometimes think the skin feels a little waxy or greasy when they're still growing. Not that I stroke them that often!!

[sparrow100]

What Thelma says - they need to change colour and the skin needs to toughen up. I have about 8 winter squashes set at the moment, but even the earliest, keenest one is a few weeks off being ready.

[lyndonj]

Are you growing these in the UK? I have one the size of a grapefruit at the moment!

Mine are not even that big
So that pumpkin is impressive and the first thing I looked for was the location

[kris1960]

I have some flowers on some plants, I also looked for location! Very impressive!

[veggiechicken]

Hello JPCook and welcome to the forum.
Please satisfy our curiosity and tell us where you live. My guess is - its not the UK

[jpcook]

Thanks for the replies. I'm living in Madrid in Spain and have a small allotment. My trouble is it is now 40 degrees everyday!

[lyndonj]

Curiosity satisfied lol

[starloc]

I thought it was just me....

looking at all my plants....I know I planted over 10, possibly 20 varieties of pumpkin and squash.....,

all mixed up thanks to the crazy dog....

planted anyway.... about 100 plants.....random places around the garden....

Was looking at some today....7 inch wide round yellow things....

I think they are atlantic giant...but could be anything!


Was going to ask on here if there was a way how I could tell when ripe!....

as I have no idea what colour or size or shape any of them should be!

[Sharpy]

I have one the size of a football. Will do my level best to supply photographic evidence tomorrow.

I live in Kent

[Jungle Jane]

I haven't grown pumpkins for years but what I remember is the top half of the pumpkin ripens in the sun first,then I had to turn the pumpkin to ripen the underneath bit,which was green when I grew them. Then they were stored in a dark place (shed) can't remember why,maybe to do with ripening? I think they were ready October,depends when you sow seed though.

[TrysHard]

Mine are still on the vine getting near to harvest but will be fine on the plant until around first frost.

Mine never seem to grow much more come Sep but I let them mature on the plant.

[Gillykat]

My two Atlantic Giants are more like Atlantic Dwarfs Ho hum they may get a sudden growth spurt