Re: Keeping my pumpkin alive

In my opinion, I would let the pumpkin stay on the vine. Even water the plant occasionally when the soil becomes somewhat dry. Apply a fungicide to the whole plant including the fruit and particularly around the stem. Inspect a couple times a week for any signs of decay on the fruit or on the stem. If detected apply a paste of fungicide. As the weather gets cold - freezing or below, make sure you cover the fruit with a good heavy blanket in order to avoid the fruit from freezing. Usually around the first of October you can pick the fruit and place it where you want to show it off. Make sure you don't cause any scrapes or bruises to the fruit. As a precaution you can always wipe it down with a 1-5 mix of Clorox. Again, if the weather dips make sure you cover it up in order to avoid it getting froze.
I grew up on a farm where my father grew 10 acres of pumpkins and squash for market. We use to store squash and pumpkins in an old barn and cover them with straw. In this matter we had squash to sell until after Christmas. 

Russ
Burlington, WI 
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