Pumpkin question please

[giantseye]

This year is the first time that I have grown pumpkins, and I have a couple of questions please.

Firstly, do you need to pick the growing pumpkins from off the soil because they will rot?

Secondly, if you do needto raise them up, what is the best thing to use?  Would straw be OK, or do you need some sort of plastic to rest them on.

Your help would be greatfully appreciated.

Thanks

Ruth

[giantseye]

[Mrs Ava]

You can raise the fruit from the ground if you like, some people do, some don't.  I didn't bother last year, but this year I have some straw left from mulching my strawbs so have used this under some.  I know some people use a brick or old slab under them.  I wouldn't use plastic as I think that would cause the fruit to sweat and might cause rot, and a home to slugs....altho I wonder if the straw might do that.....  Good luck with your pumpkins.  Hope you are taking photos to show us all!  ;D

[giantseye]

Thanks for the quick reply EJ.

I will try some straw first, and see how I get in.  I thought that weed control fabric might be an idea, as it allows water to go through.

I have planted the pumpkins into well rotted manure, and they have gone mad.

The smaller one has got 2 growing, and the larger one has 6.  I am going up every other day to water them so they don't drop the pumpkins with this hot weather.

I will gladly send in photo's when they are bigger.

Thanks for your help

Ruth