Bringing in your home-grown pumpkins from the garden is a rewarding milestone, but the work isn’t finished once they’re off the vine. Whether you plan to carve them for Halloween or use them as part of your fall porch decor, improper post-harvest storage can quickly lead to mold, soft spots and premature rotting.

To keep your pumpkins looking fresh and healthy through the fall season, horticulture experts recommend following specific rules around temperature, ventilation and handling.

How to Store Harvested Pumpkins Correctly

1. Store Pumpkins in a Cool, Climate-Controlled Space

Once you have successfully cut your pumpkins from their vines, finding the right environment is the most important step in preserving them. Brenda Dahlfors, University of Illinois Extension master gardener program coordinator., recommends storing harvested pumpkins in a dry area with good air circulation where the temperature ranges between 50°F and 55°F.

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Keeping them within this specific temperature threshold prevents the fruit from experiencing extreme temperature shocks that can break down the rind and invite decay. This does mean that if you live in an area where it gets very cold right around Halloween, you will need to move your pumpkins indoors if you want to keep them as part of your fall decor during November.

2. Ensure Proper Air Circulation and Avoid Stacking

Where and how you arrange your pumpkins indoors makes all the difference in their shelf life. Because ventilation is vital for preventing moisture buildup, you should never crowd your harvest into a damp, unventilated corner.

Furthermore, you must avoid piling your gourds on top of each other. “Do not pile harvested pumpkins on top of one another,” stresses Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University Extension and author of Plants Are Speaking. Are You Listening?. “This can contribute to the pumpkins rotting. They need good air circulation”. Giving each pumpkin its own space to breathe ensures that surface moisture evaporates rather than pooling and causing the rind to break down.

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3. Finish the Harvest Before the First Frost

Proper storage success starts with timing your bring-in date correctly before weather conditions compromise the fruit. Dahlfors notes that it is critical not to let your pumpkins endure frost periods. “Harvest and get them into storage before the first frost,” advises Dahlfors. “Even a light frost can damage the skin and may take a few days to show up”.

By moving your pumpkins indoors before freezing temperatures strike, you protect their outer defense barrier and set them up for long-lasting display throughout October and November.

Sources:

• Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University Extension and author of Plants Are Speaking. Are You Listening?
•  Brenda Dahlfors, University of Illinois Extension master gardener program coordinator.

This article has been adapted from When to Harvest Pumpkins So They’re Just Right by Jenna Clark.

Related: 11 Types of Squash Every Home Gardener Should Know