Out of control pumpkins!

[Seanc]

Hi all,
I'm new to the forum, but have been lurking for the last 3 years.
In fact it's this forum that made me take on my allotment in 2017!
So to the title of this post.. I grew pumpkins in my first year on the allotment and they grew sucessfully, last year was a disaster and they didn't even make it to the flowering stage I
However, this year I planted 6 plants and they have gone absolutely crazy,already setting fruit and trailing all over!
Is it worth stopping the plants trailing to produce bigger fruits and if so how do I do this?

[roitelet]

You can ‘prune’ pumpkins. Stop them two leaves beyond a developing fruit and remove any sterile side shoots. Reduce the fruits to about 5 per plant for huge pumpkins or leave a few more for smaller more manageable fruits.

BTW welcome to the vine

[ameno]

I've never thought to prune pumpkins or squash. I just let my squashes run rampant. I grow Marina di Chioggia, and they're real monsters. Easily trail to 5m. Mine were escaping over the fence into the back alley last year.

[keat63]

I wish.

I grew Jack O lanterns last year, they went great guns.
I'm trying Atlantic Giant this year and they are pityful.

I'll be surprised if we get any.

[Snoop Puss]

Hello and welcome, Seanc. Good question because it's info I need too. Rather underestimated how much space two of my varieties need.

And thanks for the answer, Roitelet. I knew you could prune them, but thought it was five leaves. Anyway, the shorter the better!

[Seanc]

Thanks for the replies,
I left the pumpkins to it and they still seem to be growing, although not as rampant!
Some of them have turned orange already and are a good size will these last till Halloween?

[Scarlet]

Leave them alone until they have ripened fully. Give them a tap and they should sound hollow. They should store for months.

[ameno]

Thanks for the replies,
I left the pumpkins to it and they still seem to be growing, although not as rampant!
Some of them have turned orange already and are a good size will these last till Halloween?

Pumpkins don't last as long as winter squash, but they should still keep at least two-three months off the plant.
You can leave then on the plant, even after they are ripe, and they will last indefinitely. The "counter" doesn't start, so to speak, until they stop receiving water and nutrient from the plaht.