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My two pumpkins turned orange by September 1. They are both still fairly small, and the stems are still green and sturdy. How long can I leave them to grow?

I've seen conflicting advice on the internet. One person said as much as two months. Another person said just a few days.

One person said to look at the stem and see if it has turned color and started to dry out. Another person said to look at the skin and see if it has become firm and hard.

I live near San Francisco, California, where our days are cool and dry at least until the rainy season starts, usually in mid to late October. I want to pick the pumpkins and stop watering the plants if the pumpkins won't grow any further.

Daanii
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  • I think it's weather-dependent - hot and rainy = quick to rot. – Jurp Sep 02 '23 at 03:56
  • I added my location and weather information. I don't think rotting will be a problem here, but I do want to pick the pumpkins and stop watering them if they won't grow any further. – Daanii Sep 02 '23 at 04:06

1 Answers1

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I think all of those signs are valid.

  • They turn orange when they ripen and they will not grow much more
  • Skin hardness is another sign that they will not grow anymore
  • Similarly the stem will start drying when they have matured
  • It also depends on the variety.

They have matured (or are almost there), so the growth if any is not going to be major or worth worrying about.

If you grew it from seed, then look at the packet. Otherwise measure it twice a week and then decide (you can wrap a piece of string around the circumference).

Rohit Gupta
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