[Growster...]

We're growing pumpkins for the grand daughts, and have about eight large ones, with the biggest being about 18" across. We have seven plants on the go.

Does the team think that we should let the biggest one stop growing now (we've shortened all the leaders), and should we put it somewhere cooler to cure, or is it best to let it hang around until the middle of October?

It's still growing daily, and for once, we have some good cucurbit weather on the way, so I'd like to see if we can manage a monster if we can!

[LotuSeed]

If the tendril closest to the pumpkin stem isn't dead, I'd leave it to keep growing. If you pick it too early, you increase the likelihood of it rotting in storage. Might be fun to leet them to it and see how big they end up!

[Salmo]

Leave them to grow until the first frost is threatened.

Lift them up and place a tile or similar under them to keep them off the soil.

[Growster...]

Great advice - thank you Salmo and Lotus!