Pumpkins

We planted pumpkins about a month ago and now the plants are already large and the vines are sprawling all over the place. I am wondering if it's ok just to let them run or do I need to prune the leaves, etc. They are planted in plastic and the "paths" between our rows are planted in annual rye grass. It will be impossible to weed under the vines and leaves...so what to do?

They do get huge. The only time I prune mine is if I'm trying to force them to ripen. Then I nip the end of the vine that the fruit is on. I actually let them run between my other plants to control the weeds.
Lisa

Lisa... have you already planted your pumpkins ..??... I've found some seeds that I've had for awhile so I thought I'd go ahead and put them in the ground...see what happens.. ??.. ...or maybe I should start them under lights first..??..

Thanks...
Jann

No I haven't put mine out yet. I want my other plants to get bigger so the vines don't take over. I have found that they do better if direct seeded or started in small pots but outside. I'm not an expert though.

Lisa.... So you just plant the seeds in the row between your other plants..??..

What size fruit are the pumpkins, Jann? It's not quite time to plant the smaller fruited varieties. You just direct sow them in hills, about 5 or so seeds per hill, then thin them down to about 3. Watch for squash vine borers, too.

They'll take over a really large area (of course it depends on the variety too) I just let mine grow were ever because I have a huge area for them. I direct sow mine and unless I need room, I just do them in rows and thin later, otherwise you can bank a hill and sow 5-6 seeds in each.

I grow pumpkins every year but on a big scale. The variety
is Orange Bulldog. I participated in a field trial with University of GA to develop this seed.
Hard to grow pumps in South GA due to heat and humidity.

These are pretty pumps though. You are welcome to follow on my blog. We will begin planting this week and do best with hilling method. 5 or 6 seeds per hill.

We don't prune at all unless mower gets them! Pruning necessary if you are looking for BIG pumps!

Blessings from the Garden.
ML

Jann,
I direct seed them in their own area knowing fully well that they will get way to big for that area and go everywhere, just like the watermelons. I have a very large garden but spacing has never been my strong point!

LOL Lisa! Spacing isn't my strong suite either! That's why it looks like a jungle out there.

Good I'm glad I'm not the only one. I have found watermelons on the vine, after a light frost that killed the plants but didn't effect the fruit. I even knew they were there. That doesn't happen with many of the pumpkins because most of the tie the fruit is a different color, but I've even had that happen with Pumpkins that are green when ripe.

Our pumpkins are already full size (they are the small pie pumpkins)....I assume they will take a while to finish growing but it seems strange that they are already full size.

It seems like it takes them FOREVER to ripen!

OK; that's actually encouraging. I thought it was strange that they would get this size so soon. Now I will wait for maturity...hopefully at least the end of the summer.

They should definitely be ripe by then. You can always cut the growing end to encourage them to ripen. I will have to look up exactly how, but I really don't think you will have to worry about it. I would love to see a picture.
Lisa

We picked our first pumpkins last night. Our Ext. agent said to figure at least two weeks ahead of schedule which would actually make it about right. somehow I was figuring my timing at the far end of the scale, e.t. if they take 115-120 days, I was countin 120. Subtract 14 from 115 and you get 101 days. We planted them on May 1 so at the earliest we should harvest on August 9. Oh well, should we just let them stay on the vine until then, even if they look ready?

Same situation with the Acorn Squash...they are coming in really early. Since we had the hottest June on record, this is not surprising.

I was told to pick them when you can no longer stick your fingernail into the skin. I would be afraid that if they were left on the vine they would rot, but I don't know. I grew some from Thailand last year. They were so sweet I just cooked them in the microwave and eat them plain.

Can a person freeze pumpkin. What other way can you preserve them.Because after Halloween, you can't find a pumpkin around Texas.

Yes, you can freeze it! I did that last year and it worked just fine. I cleaned out the pumpkins, then cut them into large chunks and placed on cookie sheets. I then baked it in the oven until a fork inserted in the meat came out easily. Remove from oven, then cool for a little bit. Scrape off the meat from the flesh and put in blender or food processor and pulse until smooth. I then divided it into 2 Cup servings (since many recipes call for 2 cups/16 oz.) and placed in quart sized freezer bags. Smooshed them flat and stacked in the freezer.

That sounds so easy. I love pumpkin pie. I'm going to have to order some seeds really fast.

Get one of the smaller-fruited pumpkins for baking. I loosely followed the instructions on The Pioneer Woman's site, http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/10/make-your-own-pumpkin-puree/