[mosser]

!st time I have grown them          What do I do with the long 'triffed' like runners.

[flitwickone]

an expert probably will be along shortly also a big big    welcome to the forums
its my 1st year as a pumpkin grower so im not sure have fun

[Pompey Spud]

Let them grow. I do within my squash bed and train the round in a spiral etc.

New leaf growth will form from the runners as well as flowers/fruits.

[gypsy]

My atlantica pumpkin has only male flowers, I had high hopes for a huge pumpkin but even if it gets a little pumpkin on there will not be enough summer left for it to mature

[jackief]

Thanks for that Pompey Spud, out of three plants 1 has a pumpkin about the size of a coconut, 1 has 4 fruits the size of snooker balls and is the only one spreading out, and the middle 1 has only ever had male flowers!! First time growing so just waiting to see what happens.

ps i'm originally a Gosport girl.

[MoreWhisky]

I only allow 4 fruits on my pumpkins so i get 4 decent sized ones.

If u allow more you run the risk of of them not ripeing, more fruit also use some of the nutrients that would go towards making the the 4 get bigger.

[mand]

!st time I have grown them          What do I do with the long 'triffed' like runners.

I allow 2 fruits per plant, after fruit has set I cut runner off leaving two leaves beyond fruit, these will throw side lateral growth and I keep these nipped back too. you want growth of pumpkin not long runners. I bury cut ends to prevent disease or insect problems.  The stems that carrying fruit if you look and find a leaf node before the fruit (not too close to the pumpkin though as it grows you dont want it to put strain on the stems) I slightly build the soil up so roots can form,  this helps to support and feed the hungary pumpkin this can occur naturally if let alone I just give a helping hand to make sure.
Sit back and watch them grow and then the best bit the eating. 

[mosser]

Thank you for all your suggestions        It all sounds a bit 'hit or miss'.