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Home » garden » How To Turn Pumpkins Orange

How To Turn Pumpkins Orange

Posted:11/1/16
Updated:9/14/19

Easy tips on how to turn green pumpkins orange quickly indoors.   This works for small and large pumpkins.

Pumpkins can turn from green to orange pretty quickly and easily indoors.    There’s a number of reasons why you might want to bring your green pumpkin inside, the main ones being change of weather (frost hits the plant) or animals eating your pumpkins.  A few weeks ago after a dramatic drop in the temperature I had to pick many of our big pumpkins that were still green.

Should I pick my green pumpkins?

Pick your green pumpkins!  If weather doesn’t permit your pumpkins to continue growing outside, then it’s time to pick them and bring them indoors.  

 If you spend a few months growing a pumpkin then you know the heartbreak if you don’t get to see it turn orange.  Right now with the temperatures changing it’s the perfect time to bring your pumpkins indoors to turn orange.  After they turn orange you can continue to let them decorate your home,  or eventually cut them open and bake them for pumpkin puree. November and December are great times to decorate and bake with pumpkin!Easy tips on how to turn green pumpkins orange quickly indoors.   This works for small and large pumpkins.

I turn pumpkins to their bright orange color the same way I turn  my tomatoes red.
Easy tips on how to turn green pumpkins orange quickly indoors.   This works for small and large pumpkins.

How To Turn Pumpkins Orange

Are you ready for this super easy tip to turn your green pumpkins orange?
Ok, get ready.  It’s really easy. You don’t even to take notes!

All you do is bring them inside and put them in a warm spot.  I put mine near near my windows – anywhere from right next to it to 10 feet away.   Then just wait a few days, or weeks, and the pumpkin will turn completely orange.

Here’s a before/after of one of the pumpkins:
Easy tips on how to turn green pumpkins orange quickly indoors.   This works for small and large pumpkins.

Here’s another before and after of one of our big 40 pound pumpkins:
Easy tip on how to turn green pumpkins orange quickly indoors. This works for small and large pumpkins.

Here’s a upclose on the side of the pumpkin, you can see it turning.
Easy tip on how to turn green pumpkins orange quickly indoors. This works for small and large pumpkins.

This works great for  munchkins and pumpkin pie pumpkins too.  
Easy tip on how to turn green pumpkins orange quickly indoors. This works for small and large pumpkins.

Hope you enjoyed this easy trick! Now go turn some pumpkins orange!
Easy tip on how to turn green pumpkins orange quickly indoors. This works for small and large pumpkins.

Looking for some yummy pumpkin recipes? Try my Pumpkin Roll, Pumpkin Pancakes and Pumpkin Chili! 

Pin for later:

Easy tip on how to turn green pumpkins orange quickly indoors. This works for small and large pumpkins.

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  1. Dee says

    November 18, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    Thanks SO much! I’m going to bring my sugar pumpkin in the house to turn orange! I didn’t know how it would happen without much sun outside lately. I really want to bake & purée it to make pies and dry seeds for next year. Now I know I can!

    Reply
  2. Sara says

    November 1, 2019 at 3:13 pm

    Omg I have 5 this year from my accidental pumpkin patch 5 sizes and its gettin come in Philly so I will bring in to Orange up! So excited and people loves them

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      November 4, 2019 at 4:14 pm

      I love accidental pumpkins Sara! Hope this helps you, enjoy your pumpkins! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Julie says

    October 2, 2019 at 11:56 pm

    I have a similar situation to Sue, but my seeds were in the compost pile from last year. Suddenly this spring, I had plants everywhere! I didn’t have many germinate but the few that did are big and green, green, green. As we just had snow and freezing temps move in last week, I have been diligently covering them. I’m glad to know they can come in the house to turn orange. I may even plant a few on purpose next summer. Thanks for the hints. Julie

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      October 3, 2019 at 10:34 am

      Hey Julie, don’t you love how compost keeps on giving? I like me some surprise pumpkins! Send me pictures when they turn orange! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Sue says

    September 13, 2019 at 10:24 pm

    Last year winter came too close to Halloween and the pumpkins were covered by snow until January. They were left for the winter and turned to a wet slug in the Spring. Unbeknownst to us the seeds planted themselves and in August we found pumpkin plants growing in our front yard. Now in mud-sept we have pumpkins. How cool. One small one bigger. I will take photos tomorrow since they are still green and then bring them inside so they can turn orange. I have never grown anything so this is so much fun. A real pumpkin patch with real pumpkins.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      September 14, 2019 at 8:43 pm

      Hey Sue, that is so exciting! Pumpkins are one of my favorite things to grow, and even better when they’re a complete surprise! Enjoy your pumpkins! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Matthew Ahern says

    October 16, 2018 at 5:33 pm

    Grew my own this year and was mildly successful fed the groundhog and baby racoons for a good part of the year on the tender budds ,but harvested 11 munchkins and I am using the indoor technique to orange them up.Had a great growing season in northern ohio this year!!

    Reply
  6. Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says

    November 2, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    This is a nice tip, thank you!

    Reply
  7. Cem says

    November 2, 2016 at 4:19 pm

    Hi Pamela,
    I have been following the upstate adventure all along and am amazed and inspired by all you guys have done. I was wondering what town in upstate that you guys are doing your farming if you don’t mind revealing. My partner and I were considering a similar endeavor in the future and loved your views so thought I would ask.
    Thanks,
    Cem 🙂

    Reply
  8. John/Kitchen Riffs says

    November 2, 2016 at 10:16 am

    I’ve never grown pumpkins. Never had the space. I envy you! Fun post — thanks.

    Reply

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