Wait for the maturity
Only mature winter squashes such as hokkaidos, hubbards and turban squash are suitable for long-term storage. This is how you can reliably tell whether the time for harvest has come:
- the leaves die off
- the stem is lignified and dry
- the shell is firm and cannot be scratched with the nail
- some varieties sound hollow when knocked
- in the case of orange-red varieties, the color tone becomes more intense
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Tips
The ripe pumpkins are cut from the plant with a sharp knife. A stalk about 10 cm long should remain on the pumpkin.
Suitable pumpkin fruits
In principle, any ripe winter pumpkin is suitable for storage. It must just not be damaged or have pressure marks. After the harvest, the pumpkins should also dry out in the fresh air for a few more days. This is best done outside in the garden, provided that the weather is dry.
Summer pumpkins are harvested immature in summer and must be consumed soon after harvest.
Post-ripening as an intermediate stage
Before the pumpkins move into their storage location, they should first be given the opportunity to ripen. This process has many advantages:
- Post-ripening improves the taste
- The germination capacity of the kernels is increased
- The stem dries up, which increases the protection against infection
Post-ripening takes about three weeks and should be in a light and dry place at approx. 20 degrees Celsius.
Tips
Place the pumpkins on a dry surface, such as cardboard. They should also be turned regularly so that they dry evenly.
The ideal storage location
After ripening, the pumpkins need another storage location. Maintaining the ideal temperature is particularly important. If it is lower, the pumpkins can rot. If it is higher, the taste suffers.
The optimal storage location is characterized as follows:
- it is dry and dark (e.g. B. Basement, cellar)
- the room temperature is 12-15 degrees Celsius
- is airy, with little humidity
The pumpkins should be stored in such a way that no bruises can form on them. Wooden boxes and nets are well suited for this.
Storage time
If pumpkins are properly stored, they can be stored for up to 6 months. How long a pumpkin can actually be stored, however, depends on the variety.
Keep the pumpkin in the refrigerator
Summer squash, which also includes zucchini, can also be stored in the cool refrigerator. However, their shelf life is limited to about seven days.
Leftovers from cut pumpkins can also be stored in the refrigerator for about two days. The pumpkin piece should be well packed beforehand and the seeds possibly removed.
The garden journal freshness-ABC
How can fruit & vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh as long as possible?
The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:
- as free PDF file to print out on your own
