My pumpkins had ripened early. I picked them and put them in my basement, 'cause I was told it would be better than my garage. Now I am noticing a white mold on the stems. Are they worth salvaging? What did I do wrong?

did you actually wait until the pumpkin vines died and the pumpkin stem shriveled before you picked them? That's how they seal themselves up for storage. If the stems were still "inflated" with moisture, then the mold sets in.

You might try setting them out in the hot sun so they will dry out. In California our pumpkin festivals are a big thing, and the pumpkins sit out in the field all the way into Halloween and are solid. Take a knife and scrape that mold off, maybe spray the whole thing with a baking soda/water spray. But if the orange area around the base of them stem gets soft, then that's it for the pumpkin. Cut it, cook and freeze, have an early Halloween

If they have mold if I were you I would get rid of them. IF you don't, than the mold will spread it will get out of control.

I forgot to tell you that if you use Vinicer than it may save them but I am not shure.