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I've never grown these before, how do you know when they're are ready? I have 3 that are a rich orange and the leaves of the plant are all but dead. Should I leave them or are they ready?

Thanks
TEYman

They sound ready to me, although it seems quite early. ??? Try knocking them and see if they sound hollow.

Cut them off the vine with AT LEAST 4 - 5 inches of vine still attached.  If mould gets into the vine, it may not reach the fruit.

Cheers,    Tony.

See if you can mark the surface with your fingernail, if it leaves a mark then the skin has not yet set.

As another person new to growing pumpkins I'm afraid I don't know the answer but I'm amazed yours are already 'rich orange'.  Mine are still dark green and I was wondering, do they get lighter or darker before they go orange? 

G x

Georgie, this is my first year too (and loving it)  my pumpkin is about 60% orange now..it started turning about 10 days ago, and my leaves all look terrible, but the fruit and the particular vine it is on is still healthy, so I'm leaving mine a while longer.  There may be pics in my gallery  :)

Keep in mind that not all pumpkins are orange - some are yellow or green when ripe. In general, they can be left until the vine is really dead. unless it is affected by mould in which case cut off the vine well away from the fruit and leave it to mature. Early September does sound very early to me.

In the East, my Uchiki Kuri have been orange for quite a while but I don't intend harvesting them yet, the leaves are still green. I have another large pumpkin from a saved seed (which means it could be anything) which is quite green.