Hi all!
It's my first time growing pumpkins and I need a bit of help, coz I really don't know what I'm doing ;)
The variety is Halloween. I have only one plant, outside, it has grown to about a meter long so far and has at least 5 little swellings that look like they will turn into fruit so far (one is about the size of a tennis ball already).
I read that I should pinch the growing tip out a few leaves after a swelling to encourage it to bush into sideshoots, so I did - and it has.
But what do I do next? Should I stop too many pumpkins from forming? How many should I get from one plant?
I fed it with dried poultry manure and compost when I planted it about a month ago, do I need to feed it again?
Some of the leaves have turned a bit yellow - I was thinking it was all the rain, it has perked up just the last two days when it has been dry.
any help much appreciated - my OH has decided we need to have a halloween party to use all the pumpkins ;D
hi,i cant help you much wiv any answers,i just leave my pumpkins to get on with it,if you are growing for kids did u know that if you get a blunt pencil, and write their names on the fruit now,as the pumpkin grows so does the name.
Hi, 3-4 is average for your pumpkin. Re pinching,I don't. This comes from the British method of growing melons under glass and has somehow stuck, in the field it is better to let them go. Leave them on the vine till the leaves have died off unless it gets frosty in which case harvest them. Wipe them with a very mild solution of bleach and water especially if the plant has any mildew on it. Cut the plant rather than pull it and leave a good long handle as this prevents bacteria getting into the pumpkin via a break. If you scratch your name in, the name will get bigger as they grow but the pumpkin can open at those areas and they will then not keep,Ok if you are just using them for decoration at Halloween. If you do carve and pop a candle in don't use the flesh for cooking after. The seeds you can roast by the way they are excellent.
XX Jeannine
XX Jeannine