Is it possible to ripen an unripe pumpkin and how?

"Hello! Help me 'save' my pumpkin. Fearing the weather forecasters' impending ground frosts, I harvested it early. Now I don't know what to do with it. Will unripe pumpkin ripen indoors? What can I make with it? (Yana)"

First, you need to make sure the pumpkin is truly unripe. Green or dark gray skin is not a sign of immaturity. For example, the Acorn, Vesnushka, Zimnyaya Sladkaya, Lechebnaya, Khersonskaya, Altair, Bylinka, and Vitaminnaya varieties have skins in various shades of gray or green, but they are fully ripe inside. Cut open such a pumpkin, and you'll find juicy, rich yellow-orange flesh inside.

How can you tell if a pumpkin is fully ripe? Never cut the skin, as this can ruin the fruit. Look closely at the stem and skin. An unripe pumpkin will have a greenish stem, while a ripe pumpkin will be slightly dry and corky. The skin will become denser, textured, and rough in places.

If you are still sure that you have harvested an unripe pumpkin, carefully inspect each fruit for damage. The peel should be free of dents, damage, cuts, or signs of rot. Unfortunately, such fruits will not ripen fully; it's best to process them immediately. We'll discuss this a little later.

When stored properly, some pumpkin varieties can last until early spring. We'll share some tips on how to properly store unripe pumpkin:

the optimal air temperature in the room should be within 12–18 degrees above zero;
To prevent fruit from rotting, monitor the humidity level (too much humidity has a negative effect on pumpkins);
Avoid too much bright light, otherwise seeds may start to sprout inside the pumpkins.

These are all the rules you can follow to easily preserve your harvest until winter or even early spring. Even our grandmothers used to store unripe pumpkins under their beds. Lay newspaper or paper on the floor and arrange the pumpkins so they don't touch each other. Don't forget to check periodically for signs of rot.

If you notice the first signs of rot or wilting on your pumpkins, consider processing them. Unripe pumpkins can be used in salads or baked with apples. Unripe pumpkins can also be made into jam by adding orange, sugar, and cinnamon.

Video: How to Pinch a Pumpkin

This video will show you how to pinch the fruit correctly.