pumpkin plants 5 foot and still growing what now?

[lynda66]

i have 2 pumpkin plants, they are growing up a wigwam, and one is just over 5 foot tall, the other one isn't far behind ...... theres loads of new shoots and leaves appearing, and plenty of little yellow pumpkins, but i only actually want 2 for halloween, so should i just leave them to get on with it, or should i do something? they seem awfully big for just the 2 pumpkins

[scarey55]

Hi Lynda,

I think that if you only want 2 for Halloween it would be best to stop the growth by cutting the tops off so that they can put all their energy into fruiting. I usually grow small kuri squashes but limit them to 2 or 3 fruits per plant using this method.

Looking forward to seeing a pic of your Halloween pumpkins

[lynda66]

so how much should i cut off?? theres plenty of pumpkins down at the bottom so i could cut a good couple of feet off, but will that do the plants any harm cutting that much off? ....my squashes have loads of flowers, but every one so far is male

[Two_Sheds]

I would be cutting the plant off immediately after the fruit.
There's no point at all in leaving the plant to sprawl. You want to divert its energy into ripening the fruit.

[Matt.]

I would be cutting the plant off immediately after the fruit.
There's no point at all in leaving the plant to sprawl. You want to divert its energy into ripening the fruit.

I agree BUT hedge your bets and grow more than you want. This weekend I discovered one of my giants had just given up and gone rotten. I don't know exactly why this happened but given the very wet weather we've been having I guess its mould. Pumpkins seem very prone to succumbing to problems.