An heirloom, potimarron is French for pumpkin (potiron) and chestnut (marron) suggesting a flavour of the latter. The shape is a Hubbard (reverse plump tear drop) and it has an almost red skin with deep orange flesh and excellent flavour. Will store for up to three months. PROTECT FRUITThe bottom of the pumpkin can be susceptible to rot where the fruit sits on the ground. It can be beneficial to place something under the fruit for protection such as a piece of cardboard, lid or wool mulch mats are great for this. HARVESTPumpkins can be harvested approx 120 days from transplant, when the skin is hard and the stem is drying off. The stem is also known as the wick. The wick drying off is an indication of maturity. When the wick dries off there is no more moisture going to the fruit, so the fruit will not continue to grow. The foliage will also be dying off and you should be able to see your crop. Another tip is to use the thumbnail test - it is ready when it resists puncture by a thumbnail.Remove the pumpkin from the vine with a sharp knife or pair of secateurs, leaving a good wick on. This aids the curing process and treating the wick with care will help to increase the storage life of your pumpkin. Picking your pumpkin up by the wick is not a good idea as it may damage the skin, allowing rot to set in. HANDLINGWhen harvesting pumpkin, it is important to handle the fruit with care to avoid bruising or cutting the skin. Despite its tough appearance fruit is easily damaged allowing entry points for decay organisms. Pressure bruises can reduce storage life, so avoid rough handling, tight packing or piling fruit too high.DISINFECTIONWiping fruit with a cloth soaked in apple cider vinegar or diluted bleach to disinfect the skin of the fruit once harvested can assist with storability. This should kill any spoilage causing bacteria or fungi that may be present on the skin of the fruit.CURINGAll pumpkins will improve immensely in flavour and sweetness when left for around 2 weeks to cure after harvesting. The curing process also allows the skin to harden, harvest wounds to heal and immature fruit to ripen further, thereby enhancing storage times. Place pumpkins in a warm, dry area with good air circulation. STORAGEAfter curing, move pumpkins to a dry, well-ventilated storage area. Fruit temperature should be kept as close to the temperature of the air as possible to avoid condensation, which can lead to rot. Ideally, the storage environment should be kept at 13-16°C with a relative humidity of 50-70%. Chilling injury from very low temperatures will cause fruit to break down over time. CHECKCheck your fruit regulalry to identify any early signs of decay. Eat fruit that has been damaged or showing early signs of decay first. Gently flip fruit from time to time to ensure aeration around the whole fruit. SHELF LIFEPumpkins that have been allowed to mature and cure should last 2-3 months in storage.
