PRESERVE YOUR PUMPKINS with pride by curing them. Look out for when the stalks are ready to wither and die, and the skins go a bit tougher. They’re now ready to cure. This process will harden the skin further and keep the flesh fresh for up to six months, meaning you can enjoy them for a lot longer. Just cut away the stems (leaving them at least 10cmlong), then lay them out in the sun for three to four weeks turning them over every week or so, so they develop a tan and continue to toughen. Nowstore them away in a single layer somewhere frost-free, such as in a shed or even your spare room, with a little newspaper nest to rest on. And if they look like they might turn, be sure to eat them up straight away (a ‘1001 ways with pumpkin’recipe book is recommended).
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