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Pumpkins, Squash & Gourds

Help! Need to cure pumpkins in August california temperatures!

10 years ago

Hello!
Please please if any experienced pumpkin grower can help me... I have been dying to grow pumpkins and my husband and I have planted this year and it has been going well! After not knowing what really goes on and worrying way more than I should have !
The thing is, my female flowers got pollinated quickly out of nowhere, 3 big ones and 2 Jack be littles, now one is already completely orange ready to be harvested and the other two are getting orange, the jack be littles are getting orange too!
I have read online how to cure them but I can't do what they say! I don't have a shed and It is August I believe it will be too hot outside for them to cure??? I don't know what matters in the curing process please help! Can I do it inside with air conditioning?? it is southern california so I think it's different to how others say they remove them from the frost! Please anyone's help is VERY appreciated =))))

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Comment (1)

greenwitch
10 years ago
Carol Deppe in her book The Resilient Gardener writes that she cuts about 3" - 5" stem and she quotes Johnny's Select Seeds instructions that squash/pumpkins should be left in the field, in the sun 5 - 7 days to toughen & dry the shells or indoors @ 80 - 90 deg. F. Carol then goes on to say she brings her squash inside her home where it's about 68 deg. that time of year and that's where the squash "cure" while she's waiting for the sugars to develop in the squash - a few weeks to a few months.
If it's over 95 deg. F I wouldn't leave my squash out to cook in the sun, they may need that "cure" in a cold, damp climate but here in Cali I brought mine inside - besides, leaving them out is an invitation to the raccoons and rodents to have away at them to get the seeds.
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