How can I tell when my pumpkins are ready to pick?

Start with the variety if you know it. Some pumpkins are meant to stay green, so color alone can be misleading. A useful clue is the little curly tendril near the fruit’s stem. When it has dried up, the pumpkin is usually done growing. The stem itself becoming dry and woody is another good sign.

Try not to rely on the hollow sound by itself. If the vine is healthy and frost is not near, leaving the fruit attached longer can help it keep well after picking.

I’d look for a few signs together rather than waiting for one perfect test: the rind should feel firm and resist a gentle fingernail press, and the nearby tendril or stem should be drying. Don’t press hard enough to puncture the skin.

If you can’t see the stem, you may be able to shift the pumpkin carefully to check it. If moving it risks damaging the vine, use the other signs and the variety’s expected mature color instead.

If frost is coming, or the fruit is at risk from heavy rain or animals, picking a mature-looking pumpkin sooner can make sense. Otherwise, let it stay on the vine while conditions are safe. Knock tests can be hard to interpret, so I wouldn’t use that as the deciding factor.