unripe pumpkins?

smile_sunshine · Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:13 pm

About half of my pumpkins this year are still unripe (as in completely green and some partly green partly orange). Are they still edible when green? Or would they ripen in the airing cupboard or something?

Wombat · Post: # 74675Post **Wombat** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:49 pm

Hey SS,

As far as I am aware, they are edible from any age.

nev

9ball · Post: # 74678Post **9ball** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:36 pm

I think they should ripen up in a warm place, I saw on the news recently farmers putting millions of 'em in heated sheds to get them orange for halloween, under pressure from the supermarkets.

red · Post: # 74685Post **red** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:21 pm

oo - maybe I will pick mine and bring them in.. we have 4 football size ones.. that are green.. and had the first frost yesterday... though it seemed to miss the pumkin plants.. maybe its time...

Millymollymandy · Sun Oct 21, 2007 9:00 am

I put mine on a sunny windowsill indoors and they carry on ripening. Lots of my butternuts come inside unripe but ripen throughout the winter.

I've no idea if they would ripen in the dark though.

Meredith · Post: # 74725Post **Meredith** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:03 pm

I've had mine in my utility room for about a fortnight now. They were all green but they have turned a lovely shade of orange now, even the ones at the bottom of the pile.

Thomzo · Post: # 74734Post **Thomzo** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:36 pm

According to my organic box supplier, they will ripen in an airing cupboard.

Zoe

Jack · Post: # 74745Post **Jack** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 1:38 am

Gidday

They may be edible unripe but like anything, nothing is as good as ripened on the plant.

I have tried to store punkins before they were ready because the frosts had taken all the vine but they don't store very long so if you can use then do, otherwise keep an eye on them cos they can go off pretty quickly.

Millymollymandy · Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:06 am

I think it depends on the variety Jack. My butternuts lasted a good 10 months before we ate them all. Maybe they last longer if you take them off before the frosts get the plant?

Jack · Post: # 74816Post **Jack** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:59 pm

Gidday

Trouble is here we often don't get any warning about frosts. They can happen almost anytime from late summer on if the wind drops.

Just sooooo easy to get caught out.

red · Post: # 74837Post **red** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:00 pm

well picked my three football size pumpkins.. which are green with orangy bits on the,... as we have had a few frosts ... so think they might be happier indoors...

hedgewizard · Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:23 am

Some varieties don't ripen on the plant properly in northern europe unless there's a long, warm summer. Doesn't matter - just store them somewhere warm and dry and they'll ripen up just fine.

smile_sunshine · Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:31 pm

excellent, will definately try ripening them :) thanks