If you want maximum tonnage from your pumpkin crop, it is imperative you harvest your fruit at its optimum maturity. If pumpkins are left on the vine past maturity they will actually decrease in weight as each day passes. This can reduce the final tonnage of your field.

When harvesting for wholesale be sure to harvest and stack the pumpkins carefully in the bins so you don't injure the fruit. Injured fruit offer the perfect points of entry for post-harvest disease.

The USDA Agriculture Handbook suggests the following steps be taken for proper pumpkin storage:

• Ideal storage temp should be between 50 to 55 degrees F
• Relative humidity should be no more than 70% and no less than 50%
• The harvested pumpkins should be placed on racks, in bins, or baskets
• Stored in some type of common storage building

The Handbook also states that pumpkins are susceptible to chilling injury at low temperatures. There also appears to be differences among varieties.

Follow these guidelilnes and your pumpkin crop should be a successful one.