How to Store Pumpkins
Pumpkins reward careful curing with weeks or months of useful storage after autumn harvest. Select fully coloured, hard-skinned fruits with a firm, intact stalk and no cracks, bruises or soft areas. Their size makes them awkward to store, but a dry, frost-free indoor spot keeps them far better than a damp garden shed.
Best storage conditions
Cured pumpkins prefer around 10-15 degrees C, dry air, moderate humidity and good ventilation. A cool porch, spare room or insulated garage is often suitable, provided it remains frost-free and not overheated. Avoid cold concrete, condensation and sealed plastic wrapping. Keep pumpkins in darkness or low light on shelves, trays or cardboard, with space between fruits so air can circulate and damage is easy to spot.
How long it keeps
Sound, well-cured pumpkins usually keep for 2-5 months, with smaller storage varieties often lasting longer than very large fruits. Check weekly and use any pumpkin that becomes soft, mouldy, shrivelled or damaged. Cut pumpkins should be refrigerated and used promptly, or prepared for freezing.
Storage methods
Cut pumpkins from the plant before frost, leaving a short stalk attached and handling each fruit from beneath rather than by the stalk. Let skins cure for 1-2 weeks in warm sunshine if weather allows, or indoors in a warm, airy frost-free place. Brush off dry soil and ensure fruits are fully dry before storing. Place pumpkins singly on shelves, slatted trays or cardboard in a cool room, porch or insulated garage. Do not stack them or allow them to touch. Check all fruits regularly and remove any deteriorating pumpkin straight away.
Preserving
Cooked pumpkin flesh freezes well as cubes or purée in meal-sized portions. Roast it first for a rich flavour, then cool before packing into a chest freezer. Pumpkin chutney, jam and pickles are useful ways to manage a large fruit; follow a trusted recipe for preserving. Thin cooked slices may also be dried and stored airtight for soups or baking.
Tips
Choose fruit with mature colour and a skin that resists a fingernail. Avoid washing pumpkins before storage, as lingering moisture promotes mould. Protect them from knocks during carrying, especially at the base. Keep a note of harvest dates and use the earliest-picked or slightly marked fruits first. One soft pumpkin should be removed immediately.
Storing Pumpkins: frequently asked questions
How do I store pumpkins?
Cut pumpkins from the plant before frost, leaving a short stalk attached and handling each fruit from beneath rather than by the stalk.
How long does pumpkins keep in storage?
Sound, well-cured pumpkins usually keep for 2-5 months, with smaller storage varieties often lasting longer than very large fruits.
What are the best conditions for storing pumpkins?
Cured pumpkins prefer around 10-15 degrees C, dry air, moderate humidity and good ventilation.
Store only sound, dry produce and check regularly. For bottling and preserving, follow a trusted recipe. Page updated 18 Sep 2026.