Looking after pumpkins

[moggssue]

Sorry all, if this is a repeat, but I've been reading through the pumpkin threads and am still confused!

I have three, ohh, so far half sized pumpkins happily growing away. I've lifted them off the ground by laying straw under them, all the rest have rotted at the flower end around 2" long. I also did have some Ghost Rider plants but they didnt even make it to the fruiting stage, presumably it was just too wet for them?

Two questions really - the fruits I have are already lovely and orange, not like the green ones I see on some photos on other threads, is this okay, does it mean they need to be harvested? And secondly, if they are okay to leave to grow larger, is there anything more I need to be doing with/to them?

As you can tell I've never grown them before and am excited at the prospect, also a little wary of doing something wrong at this late stage!

[piskieinboots]

I had to pick my cos the plants died off - the pumpkins are on the small side but I'm sure they will be fine.

I'd leave yours if the plants are still healthy

[Two_Sheds]

Leave them as long as you can. They will only store if dried properly ... knock the fruit, it should sound hollow when it's ready.

You can eat them sooner of course, but they'll only store if dry. My Mars are looking good, but I'm going to leave them another month at least.

[bluemoon]

My Potti Marron are a lovely deep orange, but the plants are still vigorous and growing well. I'm going to leave them until the plant has dies right back, which will probably be the middle of October (they do die back fast once growth finally stops)

[moggssue]

Thanks all! I guess Ill be leaving them alone for a while then! The plants do seem to be growing well still, I was just worried that some of your piccies showed green fruits where mine are orange - but they look a bit like Two-Sheds so must be okay!! Ohhhh, exciting...... !!!

[MaureenHall]

All my lovely little pumpkins got smashed to pieces last week during a torrential hail storm Just been down the lottie again to see if anything can be saved - dunno oyet, just wait and see I s'pose

[Little Lottie]

I had a really nice plump pumpkin growing ready for Halloween, that was until my clumsy OH tripped over it at the weekend and broke it off its stem! I am now trying to ripen it so I can perhaps make it into soup.

[Matt.]

The colour is no indication of ripeness. Some stay green the entire time whilst others will go a deep red/orange. Its all down to the variety and cross pollonation of the previous generation so nothing you can influence.

Just try to keep the fruit dry and let it grow as you see fit. If it slows down in growth its either finished or there has been a problem. For storing you want the skin to be tough and firm.

[Two_Sheds]

You know your pumpkin/squash/butternut is ripe when you rap your knuckles on it, it sounds hollow.

[Demeter]

So.... Making sure I've understood this correctly...

One of our two pumpkin plants has died. It had one pumpkin on it about the size of a football, still dark green. I tapped it and it did sound sort of hollow. I can eat it then?? Woo hoo!!

I am hoping the hollow sound doesn't just mean the slugs have been inside and actually hollowed it out lol - there is some minor slug damage on the skin but I don't think they've actually got inside the pumpkin!!