When should you pick pumpkins from the vine?

Pumpkins should be cut off the vine when the rind is hard and the fruit sounds hollow when tapped. One way to test whether a pumpkin is ready for harvest is to attempt to puncture the skin with a fingernail, as mature pumpkins do not puncture easily.

Pumpkins should be cut from the vine, not pulled, to keep the stem intact. Old Farmer's Almanac notes that a pumpkin with a 3 to 4 inch stem stays fresh longer than one with a short stem. Pumpkins continue to mature for several days after harvest if they are cured in a location that is 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.