How can I tell when to pick my Pumpkins

[eigna]

My pumpkins are yellow but starting to turn orange. When do I pick them, will the frost affect them? This is the first year I've grown them and sites say what to do with storing them but I can't find one to answer my question. I'm in the UK

[New Forester]

They will be damaged by frost here in the UK, unless it is very light indeed. When ripe they sound sort of wooden and hollow. If they are an orange kind that's a good indication they're nearly ready (trickier with green ones). They'll continue to ripen after picking. I've tried to store them in a cool garage, but found they got damp and rotted. I've been most successful storing them decoratively on a windowsill indoors. They seem to stay drier there, and any small scrapes scar over well. Keep them separate from each other, then if one goes mouldy it'll not affect the others. Once opened, keep in the fridge. If you can, go for some of the smaller varieties -- many have much better flavour than the giant orange ones. Hallowe'en is not the only use for them...

[eigna]

Thanks for that, it was very helpful

[Newt]

Hi Eigna, Take a look at this site. http://www.pumpkinnook.com/howto/storage.htm#harvest http://www.pumpkinnook.com/howto/ripening.htm http://www.pumpkinnook.com/growing.htm Newt