[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Once it's set?

I think I once read it's about 5 weeks?

I have a couple that are turning a deep orange/red colour now, and was hoping they would get bigger, but appear to have slowed down.

They are the only two that have set.

[snowdrops]

Never heard of 5weeks, mine are still growing & they've been there longer than 5 weeks. I would think with enough water & nutrients they'll carry on for some time yet.

[DD.]

As well as environmental conditions, the size they could attain, depends on the variety. It's no use trying to grow huge pumpkins from a variety such as Jack of all Trades, for instance.

What variety are you growing?

[surbie100]

I've only heard of 5 weeks linked to summer squash, not winter - ie it is possible in the right conditions to be harvesting summer squash 5 weeks after sowing seed. Winter squash guidelines are usually 90-120 days from sowing to harvest in the UK as far as I can gather.

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Mammoth DD

[Totty]

A larger variety such as mammoth should keep going for more than five weeks. If the skins are changing colour and feel firm, as opposed to feeling supple and rubbery, they won't get much bigger. Keeping the pumpkin cool, in the shade also helps to delay the ripening process which then leads to bigger pumpkins.
If you want to get a real biggy for a local show or huge Halloween lantern, allow just one fruit to grow per plant.

Totty

[snowdrops]

A larger variety such as mammoth should keep going for more than five weeks. If the skins are changing colour and feel firm, as opposed to feeling supple and rubbery, they won't get much bigger. Keeping the pumpkin cool, in the shade also helps to delay the ripening process which then leads to bigger pumpkins.
If you want to get a real biggy for a local show or huge Halloween lantern, allow just one fruit to grow per plant.

Totty

A show grower told us at a talk that you leave 2 on for show purposes, 1 as the biggy & was as the pressure valve otherwise the biggy can explode

[Totty]

To get a real big one, fast even growth is the key to not splitting. Letting two grow per plant means half the nutrient per fruit, therefore smaller pumpkins. Just for fun two will be fine but for bigguns, just one.

Totty