first time growing pumpkins

[BumbleB]

I cut my extra legs off! I made it a much tidier plant by cutting off all of the newer growth to allow the earlier fruits to mature. I didn't want lots of wee babies but a few bigger teenagers!

[Two_Sheds]

Ive got pumpkins growing too - ... How can you tell when they are ripe

They'll turn orange, and sound hollow when you knock them.

[Paulottie]

One trick, if growing on the ground, is to put a slate or paving slab under the developing pumpkin. to keep it off the soil; giving a better skin condition and thus avoiding rot.

[AndrewC]

i have cut all the dead leaves off of mine and pollonated all my fruits and thay seem to be going great the plant in my front garden is huge and must be at least 3ft long with 3 fruits on i will wait for them to grow before cutting any off

[darkcrystal]

ok question one what do you mean by cutting the legs off??????
and number two i cant get a slab underneath it so i have put a brick under one a plant tray under another and the other polystyrene.. and the other one is on the slabs that i havent taken up, will that be ok.......also i have a feeling one of the pumpkins is going to be ready before halloween any ideas how i can store it untill halloween and be able to use the flesh as well i dont want it going rotten?

[BarleySugar]

When I checked on my pumpkins yesterday they have grown amazingly in 4 days. Then I was wondering if the fruits were pollinated, now they are way bigger than tennis balls. I've got 3 so far, on 2 plants, but more babies are coming along. I would prefer more smaller ones than a few large, as we won't want too much at a time. I don't know the variety, the plants were just labelled pumpkins, but they are very rampant growers , it's a good job they've plenty of space.

[AndrewC]

ok question one what do you mean by cutting the legs off??????
and number two i cant get a slab underneath it so i have put a brick under one a plant tray under another and the other polystyrene.. and the other one is on the slabs that i havent taken up, will that be ok.......also i have a feeling one of the pumpkins is going to be ready before halloween any ideas how i can store it untill halloween and be able to use the flesh as well i dont want it going rotten?

cutting legs off means stems or leaves which is what you have done already. how are yours growing mine are doing very well i will upload some pics in the up and coming days to show you

[darkcrystal]

mine are doing well i have 4 pumpkins growing and one of them is slowly turning orange now, fun to watch. i wasnt expecting one so 4 is really good. did have 5 but 1 dropped off. cant wait to see you pics of them

[maytreefrannie]

Yay! My pumpkin has about 4 tiny pumpkins showing - my grandchildren were here this week and I showed them the plant, also took a couple of photos of them by the plant, and one of a tiny pumpkin showing the size of their hands next to it. All great fun and what a buzz to see the little fruits starting - I haven't grown pumpkins for years, since my own children were young.

My plan is to let one pumpkin grow on but I don't want to take off any of them yet.

[Bramble_killer]

i grew 2 pumpkins, 2 blue ballet squashes and 2 butternut squashes.

All of them have been destroyed by slugs

[darkcrystal]

I forgot to turn my pumpkins and they have turned a funny colour, will they be ok? i dont think putting them on top of plastic trays does the trick i will have to think of somthing eles. i have put some pics on to show you.

im really sorry to here about your pumpkins and squashes, is it too late to plant anymore........or will they grow anymore fruit

[darkcrystal]

the pumpkins

hope this works the pics should be on here

[danmon_81]

Nice pumpkins DC...i have 4 plants and they are taking over the whole plot....having said this i have about 10-15 small pumpkins
I hope they set....i'll stick some pics up later!

[maytreefrannie]

i grew 2 pumpkins, 2 blue ballet squashes and 2 butternut squashes.

All of them have been destroyed by slugs

Sorry to hear that, Bramble killer.

This might be a stupid question, but are the plants completely gone, or is there enough left to grow on again? I ask this because last year I had some purple sprouting broccoli that was eaten down to a few sticks but they did recover and fruited late in Spring.

[vikkib]

I'm reading this thread with great interest!

My sister wants me to grow pumpkins next year and I've just ordered some 'Jack Be Little' and 'Rouge Vif D'Etampes' seeds.

Looks like I may need to increase the amount of space I allow for them!