HARVEST RIPE PUMPKINS

I didn’t intend to grow any pumpkins – it just happened. One of those compost-heap accidents. Mine still have some growing and orange spray-tanning to do before they’ll be ready to harvest, so, to prevent them from rotting in the wet, I’ve bundled a layer of mulch under them.

A pumpkin is ready to harvest when you’re unable to pierce the skin with your thumbnail. The foliage will be dying off around the pumpkin and the wick (stem) will be dry because it’s no longer sending moisture into the plant.

If you want to sweeten up your pumpkin (or you’re hoping a fairy godmother turns one into a new coach), leave them for at least three weeks after picking them. This allows time for the complex