8 Tips to Help You Keep Fruits and Vegetables Fresh for Months

Pumpkin

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Apart from being seasonal decorations for fall, pumpkins are flexible and nutritious crops that, with proper handling, may be kept for long times. Appropriate temperature, humidity, and ventilation conditions define the secret to good pumpkin storage. Pumpkins can be kept under a bed, as you pointed out, if the ambient temperature is regularly below 68°F (20°C. In colder locations or throughout autumn and winter when interior temperatures naturally decrease, this unusual storing technique can be really effective. Under a bed, the dark surroundings help to preserve pumpkins by creating a shadow. To stop mould from developing, though, the space must be dry and well-ventilated. Given the temperature never falls below 37°F (3°C), the heated balcony choice you recommended is rather good. This approach uses natural cooling to shield the pumpkins from below freezing conditions. Though they may handle a larger range as long as it's consistent, the best temperature range for storing pumpkins is between 50°F and 55°F (10°C and 13°C). Your advice about setting pumpkins on cardboard or wood is just right. This habit helps to eliminate any extra moisture and keeps direct touch with cold surfaces away from happening, thereby avoiding rot. Another smart suggestion is to cover the pumpkins with newspapers since it adds extra layer of insulation and keeps the temperature more constant. It is absolutely advised to prevent letting pumpkins touch one another. When pumpkins come into touch, it might cause places where moisture builds up and might cause fast spread of rot from one pumpkin to another. Better air circulation made possible by spacing them enables long-term storage's necessary conditions. As you advised, covering the pumpkins with a warm blanket will help to further guard against temperature fluctuations—especially in outdoor storage conditions. Make sure the blanket does not, however, collect moisture, which can encourage mould development. Here are some further pointers on pumpkin storage: Choose completely matured, hard rined pumpkins for your project. Steer clear of any marked by soft spots, wounds, or bruises. After harvesting, cure pumpkins in a warm, dry environment—about 80-85°F or 27-29°C—for 10 to 14 days to harden the skin and heal any minor cuts. To destroy any germs or fungus on the surface, wash the pumpkins with a moderate bleach solution—one part bleach to sixteen parts water. Every week, check your kept pumpkins for any that show indications of deterioration so as to stop it from spreading. Store pumpkins with the stem intact; this helps stop moisture loss and deterioration. Control of humidity: Try for a 50–70% relative humidity. While too low would cause the pumpkins to dry out, too excessive humidity can lead to rot. Depending on the type and storage conditions, these storage techniques will help you keep pumpkins fresh for two to three months or perhaps longer. Long after the autumn harvest ends, this lets you savour handmade pumpkin pies, soups, and other meals well into the winter.