How many pumpkins per plant?

[Leeder]

Silly question alert!

A friend of the family gave my son a pumpkin from his allotment for halloween last year. Being a thrifty sort I saved some of the seeds, dried them out and stored them away, with the intention of trying to grow some this year.

Unfortunately, I only have a small courtyard garden (still on the waiting list for a lottie), which means that 90% of my growing is done in pots.

I thought it would be fun for myself and my son to try to grow a pumpkin (or two) from the seeds that I stored, for him for this halloween.

So last week we sowed 6 of the seeds and already 3 have germinated and what monster seedlings they are.

As space is somewhat limited, I wondered how many pumpkins a pumpkin plant would normally produce? (So I will know how many of the seedlings to keep and plant on and how many I could give to my nephew and niece's for their own little projects, as I haven't really got the room to have masses of pumpkins sprawling all over the patio and only really need 1 or 2 pumpkins for my son for halloween).


Unfortunately I do not know what variety the pumpkins are, but the pumpkins that the seeds came from last year were around the size of an average football, if not slightly bigger.


Thanks in advance for the help and advice.

Lee

[Snadger]

I have entered a giant pumpkin growing competition this year, for a bit of fun, having neither grown or tasted one before.
The competition is for the heaviest pumpkin!
After a bit of research I have sown some Atlantic Giant pumpkin seeds.
They require a lot of heat and a lot of space ( I have allowed an 8 metre run!)

From what I have researched I have constructed a 600mm high pyramid. It is one metre square and of good loamy soil. There is a deep depression in the top for planting the pumpkin which will have a sheet of glass placed over the top initially to make a small sort of cold frame.
Where I have taken out the soil to construct the pyramid I have added about three barrow loads of well rotted cow muck. This theoretically is where the topgrowth will spread and be pegged down into the muck to form extra feeding roots. The pyramid should absorb the heat from the sun to give the pumpkin a good start and as it grows I will heighten the glass over it until eventually it won't need it. I intend to let 4 pumpkins develope, eventually whittling them down to one.....the show winner hopefully!

[Dobby]

If you are just growing for size then only let one grow on pinch off the outhers that grow some you can get 6 per plant there the small ones best for eating. if they are big they dont have as much taste. I'm growing 5 diferat types only got 10 gost rider in at the mo
anyone would think i liked pumpkin

[Paulottie]

It does depends on the variety, some thing like Cwt will probably give you 3 or 4. 'Footballs' but for a monster pumpkin you want to let just one fruit develop.

As snadger said they are pretty big rambling plants and they drink and drink and drink like Nelly the pink (greedy feeders too). You will only need the strongest plant. I normally dig a big hole near the compost(you can even plant them on top of compost heap) they fill it up with straw and lumpy bits from the compost muck etc. (like a bean trench). It might be difficult to keep up with it -even in a large pot.

I hate pumpkin Dobby- fun for the kids and wife likes pumkin pie- but i'd grow butternuts for flavour and texture anytime...MMMM butternut and coconut soup with Thai spices my favourite

[Garlic Butter]

I am hoping to grow a prize winning pumpkin this year, so lots of thanks for the tips on this thread.I have mine covered with fleece planted on top of the compost heap,was a bit worried about the heat underneath them, but now feel assured that they will beokay.

[Flummery]

I love the small pumkins (I'm growing baby bear again this year) pierced with a knife and micro-waved for 4 mins. Flesh scooped out and mashed with butter and curry powder - Whooo! However, I digest! I try to keep it to 3 pumpkins per plant. Mainly because I grow them in a small space and I'm aware they can't produce their max in these circumstances.

[Garlic Butter]

Cor flummery that sounds nice,does it work for Butternut Squash as well ?

[Flummery]

Yes indeed! They both roast rather nicely too

[Leeder]

Thanks for the advice, I will keep only 1 plant as this will more that suffice for my needs.

I will pass the others on to the younger members of my family, to see who can grow the biggest, roundest, heaviest etc.

Thanks again.