[dmg]

I have 2 vif d'étampes pumpkins in a large raised bed (it was built out of full size doors). The raised bed was used as the compost area last year and was topped with a layer of horse manure early this year and a layer of comfrey
and gets a seaweed feed fortnightly

I have now 1 football size fruit along with 12 tennis ball size between them and I don't know what belong to which plant- Should I be removing some of them?. I read You should only have 2-3 per plant but is my compost not rich enough to support all them?

Thanks
dmg

[grinling]

no, reduce to 2-3 otherwise they will not ripen in time.

[Salmo]

I would leave all the fruits that have formed. (If you really want big pumpkins reduce to two per plant)

Cut off the stems 2 leaves beyond the last fruit on each runner.

Cut off all the growing points so that no more fruits form.

Cut off any more runners that grow.

[dmg]

Thanks for the replies,
I will attack it with the machete tomorrow 

[Lincs Lottie]

I am leaving all the fruits on mine.  Although I am in the biggest pumpkin competition, and I know that this will reduce the size of my pumpkins, at the end of the day I am growing for the produce so want the best yield I can.

[mumofstig]

Another vote for just leaving them to get on with it atm - although I may cut off the no-hopers at the end of September 

[dmg]

Thanks for the replies everyone,
I have cut about half off and pinched off the growing tips, I would be concerned about the plant weather wise by Sept so want to get something off it.

Dmg

[ally]

I've cut mine back twice now. . . Went up to the veg patch today and its like I didn't do anything. . . Downside only 2 pumpkins

[Beetroot queen]

I let mine get on with it, they know what they are doing and i have never had a problem with them before not ripening 

[wil4025]

I've tried over last few years to grow and ive taken so much advise to grow in a big load of fresh manure and I think by the size of mine its working.

[Kleftiwallah]

When growing our winning pumpkins in the pub garden, after our summer hols we had to "exclude" thirty or more pumkins of all sizes concentrating on five. 

Try and rest your pumpkins on a slate or rooftile to stop the beasties or rotting where they come in contact with the soil.

Cheers,   Tony.