When Should You Put Pumpkins Out in Ohio?
Every year someone asks us the same question: if I put my pumpkins out now, will they make it to Halloween? In southwest Ohio the answer is usually yes, as long as you know the difference between a whole pumpkin and a carved one, and you keep an eye on the weather.
Whole pumpkins can go out early
An uncarved pumpkin is tougher than most people think. A healthy whole pumpkin lasts about 8 to 12 weeks, and up to about three months if it was cured and stored well. That means a whole pumpkin set out in late September or early October has plenty of time to reach Halloween, and often Thanksgiving too.
In Ohio, pumpkins are typically planted from late May through June, according to Ohio State University. Local pumpkins come to market as the season turns, and a fresh, healthy one can go out on your porch right away.
Carved pumpkins should wait
Carving changes everything. Once a pumpkin is cut open, it starts to dry out and break down. University of Illinois Extension says a carved pumpkin lasts about 7 to 10 days depending on the weather. If you want your jack-o'-lantern looking its best on October 31, carve it no earlier than the week before Halloween. Carving the weekend before is a good target.
Warm days are hard on pumpkins
Early October in Ohio can still bring warm, sunny afternoons. Heat is not kind to pumpkins. University of Illinois Extension has described pumpkins as tender vegetables that are strongly affected by both hot and cold weather. Too much heat dries them out and speeds up rot. University of Georgia experts also recommend keeping pumpkins out of direct sun and in a cool, dry spot.
If your porch faces the afternoon sun, or you hit a warm spell, a covered spot or a shaded corner helps. You can also wait until the weather cools a bit to set out the pumpkins you most want to last.
Then comes the first freeze
At the other end of the season is the first hard frost. Based on National Weather Service records for 1991 to 2020, the normal first 32-degree temperature is around October 25 in both Dayton and Cincinnati. In about one year out of ten it comes by October 12 or 13, and in about nine years out of ten it has arrived by early November.
A light frost does not usually hurt a pumpkin, but a hard freeze can damage it. On nights when the forecast drops below freezing, cover your display with an old sheet or blanket or bring the smaller pumpkins inside. We will cover frost in more detail in another post.
A simple timeline for southwest Ohio
Here is how we would plan a typical season:
Late September to mid-October: set out whole pumpkins, gourds and hay bales.
Once a week: press on the bottom of each pumpkin and pull any that feel soft.
The weekend before Halloween: carve your jack-o'-lanterns.
Late October into November: watch for freezing nights and cover the display when needed.
A few things that buy you more time
Start with healthy pumpkins that have firm stems and no soft spots. Wipe them with a weak bleach solution, about 1 1/2 teaspoons of bleach per gallon of water, and let them dry before they go out. Keep them off wet surfaces so rain can drain away. And never carry a pumpkin by its stem.
With a good start and a little attention, a display that goes out in early October can carry you through Halloween and well into fall.
Questions about your pumpkins?
If you have a pumpkin question we did not cover here, we would be glad to help. Call or text us at (513) 409-0005, or send a message through our contact page. We are a family-run business right here in the Springboro, Dayton and Cincinnati area, and we are always happy to talk pumpkins.