Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Pompey Spud on August 11, 2009, 10:12

Title: Giant Pumpkin
Post by: Pompey Spud on August 11, 2009, 10:12

Anyone else giving this a go?

Mine is the variety Big Max.

It's now starting to ripen and turn dark yellow with a hard skin. They're a yellow variety.

It sounds hollow. Do I cut now or, will it grow some more?

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin
Post by: Trillium on August 11, 2009, 14:20

Not familiar with this particular variety but normally pumpkins keep growing until September, when the first light frosts start to threaten. Just keep an eye on yours in case it really does need to come out earlier than others.

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin
Post by: DD. on August 11, 2009, 14:24

We seem to be early this year.

The first of my "Jack of All Trades" has reached a good size & is now starting to turn orange.

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin
Post by: Pompey Spud on August 11, 2009, 14:42

Thanks for the replies.

Would u cut now DD?

I thought everything was early as well. Cut 6 Turks Turban already.

PUP!!

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin
Post by: DD. on August 11, 2009, 14:58

Definately not at the moment, it's only just started to turn.

Have a look at this, the pumpkin has to be well mature before cutting - even letting the vine die first.

http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/harvesting-pumpkins/index.html

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin
Post by: Pompey Spud on August 11, 2009, 15:48

So bear with me...it's still growing?

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin
Post by: DD. on August 11, 2009, 16:23

If it's turning colour - no.

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin
Post by: philsmith1967 on August 12, 2009, 19:01

Cut off any leaves that shade it because they like a little sun on their backs to ripen them.This goes for all squashes at this time of the year, the longer you give them to ripen the more chance of them storing longer. Just keep an eye on the weather to avoid frost.

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin
Post by: Aidy on August 14, 2009, 12:14

Thats not a pumkin, its a big courgette ;). Most of the chaps in the states that I have chatted with put netting over the top to protect them from the sun, of course the sun there is different to our sun. Leave it growing until you either want to eat it or the first frost come round.