by Pumpkin is the most colorful melon crop. And in many cases, the largest. It is healthy, has a long shelf life, and one of its specimens can feed a large family at once. You can make salad, soup, porridge, juice, and even candied fruit from pumpkin. That is, a full-fledged dinner of several dishes. And there is nothing to say about the benefits of its seeds!
That is why it is best to cut the pumpkin when it has grown to the required size, and most importantly, when it is fully ripe. Of course, information about the ripening time is in most cases on the seed packets. But, depending on the climatic conditions of a particular region, these dates may shift. However, there are several signs that will help you accurately determine the moment when the vegetable can be safely cut, because it is unlikely to grow to gigantic sizes. These signs can be divided into universal and those related to a specific type of pumpkin.
How to identify a ripe pumpkin by universal signs
- Color the vegetable became bright and rich.
- Leaves the vegetables ready for harvesting have turned yellow and started to dry out or have already dried out.
- Peduncle A fully ripe pumpkin is usually dry and hard, and its color becomes lighter than it was before.
- Peel The pumpkin is firm when pressed and does not leave dents (except for varieties with thin skin).
- Tapping sound is distinguished by its obvious sonority, whereas previously it was voiceless.
Signs of ripening of some types of pumpkin
Some types and varieties of pumpkin, in addition to the general ones, also have additional characteristics. In particular, many varieties of nutmeg pumpkin change color to brown by the end of the ripening period, with light spots appearing along the way. Some golden varieties develop light yellow stripes on the skin. The pattern present in the color of some pumpkins becomes more distinct.
Some varieties of pumpkins can ripen already during storage. But if you have already cut the vegetable, pay attention to the pulp (it should be soft in a ripe pumpkin) and the seeds (their shell should harden). Remember that before the first, even slight frosts, the entire pumpkin harvest, even late ones, must be collected. If necessary, you can speed up the ripening of large vegetables by removing small specimens, as well as flowers and shoots.
What to do with unripe pumpkin
If, after cutting the pumpkin and assessing its ripeness by the pulp and seeds, you realize that it is not quite ripe, do not despair. It is also possible to prepare several dishes from unripe pumpkin. For example, squeeze out the juice (and some experts claim that it is even healthier than the drink from the ripe vegetable). It can be eaten raw or added to sauces. And the pulp can be used to make pancakes, adding potatoes and zucchini to improve the taste.
At the very beginning of the material, we mentioned pumpkin seeds for a reason. If you are a big fan of cracking white seeds, we can offer you a separate useful article about their collection and storage.
