Pumpkins - do I have to raise them off the ground?

[Bluemchen]

I have two pumpkins on my plant, one of which is HUGE! They're green, and I assume they won't start turning orange for a while - working on the assumption that a pumpkin will be ready for Halloween - am I right?

I have just put them both on upturned seed trays, to stop them rotting. Is this a good or bad idea?

ta ta

[squashysu]

hi ya

i have just read in the new GYO mag that raise them up and put them on upturned wooden crates or the like, so i think you have obviously done whats good, i wouldnt have thought of that idea, so now i am gonna have to pinch it when mine grow, which they are only just flowering at the mo!

SS

[Matt.]

If its going to get really heavy its better on the ground as wooden slats might deform it. Often people use a small bed of sand or a perforated tarp which helps drain away moisture and allows movement. Finally some pumpkins are green they're definitely not all orange so you might have one of those varieties. I think orange ones start yellow and get orange about 30 days plus.

[Matt.]

Should have also mentioned you should take it easy when moving your pumpkin. Small increments each day rather than one sudden movement that could cause the stem to snap. Also if you can move when its warmest.

[Flummery]

I often put them on a slate - you don't need to move them much so don't stand a chance of breaking the neck. The extra heat sent back (if there's any sun!) helps to ripen the underside too.

[middlefield]

I always raise mine off the ground, I've got mine on low wire cages to let the moisture through.

They go orange later in the year when ripen, but if you leave them as late as possible the skin firms and they store better.

I picked some at Halloween last year, but left the others until the weather was simply too bad to leave them any longer, they stored well in to the new year.

[Lavenderblue]

I've put mine on some weed supressing fabric - I've got loads, some are the size of a football already. Its going to be pumpkin pies a gogo this winter with any luck!

[Demeter]

Only got one pumpkin worth getting excited about - it's as big as a beachball!! Huge, just popped it onto an upturned tray today. There are a couple of small ones and some flowers, but the slugs have eaten the other fruit that had set so we might be struggling to get the 7 pumpkins we need for Halloween...

[bluemoon]

I've popped mine on pieces of polystyrene. I thought it would keep them warm, clean, dry and is the only way I can think of to re-use this particular substance. A bit of a hose down in autumn and I should get several years' use from it.