Pumpkin Storage

[Greg R.]

What is the best way to store Pumpkins so they last so one can feed them to chickens during those long winter days?

 

[Greenthumb18]

What is the best way to store Pumpkins so they last so one can feed them to chickens during those long winter days?

I would say in a cool dry and dark place (if possible) like a shed. Also don't store near apples, pears other other ripening fruit, which releases ethylene gas and can cause yellowing and shortens the time you can store them.

Hope this helps!!

 

[freemotion]

Not as cool as your root veggies. Store higher in the cellar and dryer, like a top shelf where it is a bit warmer and dryer if you have a traditional root cellar. Go through them about twice a week and feed anything that is developing spots. I stored 72 little ones last fall. I put them on paper feed sacks (gotta get at least ONE more use out of everything!) that I put in cardboard boxes and grapevine baskets. I had one spare box at first, and once or twice a week I would inspect each one and put it in the spare box, then the just-emptied box would be the next spare box, and so on. I would bring any with spots or suspicious areas upstairs and set them in a stock pot on the woodstove for a while, then set that in the garage to cool. The chickens and a skinny rescued goat enjoyed them for quite a while. They won't likely make it all the way through winter, depending on where you are, so don't try to make them last until late spring. Better to use them up than to lose them, imo.

 

[Greensage45]

Welcome to TEG Greg R.

Ron

oh, be sure and feed them chickens something other than pumpkins LOL

 

[patandchickens]

Pumpkins don't want to be real cold or real humid. When temperatures get towards freezing, like IME 50 and lower, they don't last long. A cold spare room works well (if you don't have too bad a mice problem), or a *dryish* cool cellar.

If you're used to storing winter squashes (butternut, acorn, etc) pumpkin wants fairly similar things.

I've not had any luck getting leftover Halloween pumpkins to store beyond early December, though. (But, the only conditions I have available tend to be too cold or too warm, so I am sure others can do somewhat better)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[ducks4you]

For what it's worth, I kept a pumpkin on top of one of our desks at work. It didn't start rotting until March! Then, I gave it to my horses in their pasture. THAT produced 5 plants and a number of pumpkins, which they happily cleaned up for me.

 

[lesa]

Does anyone know if I can feed the tiny pumpkins to my chickens. They are more like "pumpkin/gourds". I haven't had much success with pumpkin growing previously, but I have tons of these little guys. White ones too! I attribute my success this year, to adding beekeeping to my list of hobbies!

 

[Greg R.]

Thanks for all the replies and the welcome. Much appreciated!

 

[wifezilla]

Lesa, I would try giving them one. If the skin is hard, slice it in half first.

 

[vfem]

I just read the BEST suggestion for pumpkins, gourds and squash for storage.

It was in Mother Earth News Magazine last month. Someone wrote you should drip wax over the spot where you removed it from the vine. It holds moisture in and slows rot from occurring! So simple and a great idea!