[Nickchick]

Hi

I have got a couple of pumpkins that have now set fruit.  Can I cut the growing tip from the plant to stop it taking over the garden?  If so - how close to the fruit do I cut it back.

Thanks for your replies

Nichola

[Trillium]

Yes, it's time to pinch off the tip as no more fruit will ripen in your climate.
As to where, I'd leave a few leaves beyond the last fruit and pinch off there. It's not an exact thing, but allows for any infection problems, etc.

[mumofstig]

I hope you are very wrong in your assesment of our climate Trillium as I've hardly any fruit set yet :blink:

I remember the Sunshine pumpkins and Thelma Sanders squash were still setting after the corn was picked, so I think we still have a good few weeks  

[DD.]

I also hope so!!!!

[Spana]

I haven't had a flower open on my squash plants, does that mean they are running out of time

[DD.]

Naw.

Squash are late starters, they'll suddenly make a run for it.

[peapod]

Phew!

[1st time veg grower]

I hope you are very wrong in your assesment of our climate Trillium as I've hardly any fruit set yet :blink:

I remember the Sunshine pumpkins and Thelma Sanders squash were still setting after the corn was picked, so I think we still have a good few weeks 

Thank goodness for that - I only have one fruit (small) set out of 8 pumpkin/squash plants and the rest only seem to have (lots of) male flowers. Just panicked that I've just wasted a load of space on what are rapidly becoming triffids for nothing!

[sunshineband]

Last year fruit that was very small at the end of the summber break ie beginning of September, ripened well (Baby Bear squashes) so I hope you all get some 

[SnooziSuzi]

my butternut squashes are beginning to take over their bed and beyond with about 4 fruits per 'branch' and each has about 4 branches on them!

TBH I should have probably pinched them out by now but I was amazed to see how far one squash plant could spread. 

I planted mine out under plastic bottle cloches in April / May (I'd have to look at my allotment diary which is in the shed to know exactly when, but either way it was before the last frost - hence the bottle cloches), however the bed they are in was manured with all of the hen poop and straw from autumn and winter and so it was nice and rich for them. 

I'll take some pics at the weekend to show you their progress.

I read somewhere that a lot of male flowers may be produced if the plant won't have enough oomph from the soil to produce fruit, so perhaps you may need to improve the soil (if possible now that the plants are in)?

Su

[sunshineband]

You can always water with tomato food if you think they need an extra zip 

[1st time veg grower]

I read somewhere that a lot of male flowers may be produced if the plant won't have enough oomph from the soil to produce fruit, so perhaps you may need to improve the soil (if possible now that the plants are in)?

Su

Ooh thanks for this - useful to know, will give them a feed!