Pumpkins Started Yet?

[Gadfium]

For my first pumpkin growing escapade, I have 3x Spooktacular plants. I'm hoping for something come Halloween.

The one in the allotment, transplanted out about 10 days ago, has a 2" baby fruit on it! Bit staggered when I came across it, by accident, yesterday.

[Andy H]

It is about basket ball size now but alas, may have to terminate it and let another grow as parts of skin show signs of hardening so will never be huge I think...
Wonder if cut off now will help vine growth??

[botchituk]

Haven't got a clue what variety mine are, as I kept the seed from the bairn's lantern last hallowe'en. What I can say is that although there are no sign of any fruits yet, the plants look nice and healthy and are beginning to spread. So hopefully soon I'll get some fruits (vegetables??) on them.
How many should I keep on the plant to expect reasonable sized pumpkins and should it be the first few that I keep. Sorry for the basic questions but it's the first attempt at these.
Thanks for now
Wayne.

[Andy H]

I don`t know what I am doing but I read for a giant you should let the vine grow about 15ft then let fruit develop then let vine go another 10ft or so!!!

Keep fruit shaded or the skin will harden,stopping the growth,like mine just has so may let another grow soon...

Where are the pumpkin experts out there???

[Andy H]

well I have 3 vines about 12ft each and a big pumpkin with hardened patches on skin, should I cut it off now? Is it too late to get a big one from a "new" fruit?

Help!

Cut it or leave it........

Just installed drip feed of water tonight hoping to stop the leaves wilting in the hot days..........

[Gadfium]

'fraid I don't know, Andy.

...my Spooktacular 2" pumpkin, is now stunnimgly tennis ball sized, but it doesn't get any shade because the leaves do not cover it.

So I guess it isn't going to get very big. All I would like is something suitable for a little 'un for Halloween.

 

Bummer.

Has anyone ever physically erected 'shade' over their pumpkins? Something like heavy windbreak netting on 4 sticks?

[Andy H]

mine is covered over with that black stuf that supresses weeds!
About 3 vines all about 12ft long and the pumpkin is growing from the back vine I think.
Now it is bigger than vollleyball size but wonder if to cut it off and let another grow as there is slight hardening of the skin in places?
Don`t want to wate another year finding out! Where are he experts....................?

[Doris_Pinks]

You might find some experts on these sites! Both American I think, but they are the hugest pumpkins ever!
Mine has not even produced a fruit yet this summer, but I live in hope!

http://www.backyardgardener.com/pumkin.html

http://v.webring.com/hub?ring=giantpumpring

Hope this help   DP

[Debs]

I planted my seeds into well rotted compost but they haven't shown yet 

[Svea]

i was just gonna let them get on with it and see what there is to harvest later in the year. i hope i dont have to pinch, punch or otherwise - i wouldnt know where to start

[Doris_Pinks]

Last year I let mine run rampant, and it produced one huge fruit, so I am going to do the same again this year, no mollycoddling on my patch!

[Andy H]

I have browsed sites but dont seem to cover problems like that.

My drip system fell over luckily going the other way to pumpkin but threw many gallons over cabbage and marigolds

set it up again tonight dripping about 2 a second.

The soaking yesterday has stopped the leaves sagging on the edges so must be good. Will try and get piccy from mobile phone

[Andy H]

[Andy H]

[Doris_Pinks]

WOW Andy, well done!

[busy_lizzie]

Impressive Andy!  Looks as though they are doing brilliantly.  Climbing mine up a trellis like DP's and they are doing well, but not as good as yours.  Congrats on a fine pumpkin.  busy_lizzie

[Doris_Pinks]

Cor Wardy they look healthy!

[Mrs Ava]

Cor, good stuff!

[Andy H]

I reckon my pumpkin is as big as last years already which was 80lb, heres hoping it still grows as hardening on skin already...

[westsussexlottie]

Our yellow jaune de paris pumpkins are doing spectacularly well. We have three large fruit all over volleyball size (although the variety is a flatter type) and all looking very impressive.
Golden hubbard squash performing less impressively with one fruit.
Baby boo has one baby pumpkin still green.
Butternut squash just forming fruits.
Getting there....