[MyAchingBack]

I have just bought two pumpkin plants from the local garden centre. I don’t know what type they are as the label just read “Pumpkin”. If I plant just one on my allotment what type of spacing will I require while it is growing?

[mumofstig]

difficult to answer really, without a variety 

It's always best to plant them at the end of a bed, or in a corner so they they can trail down the path if they turn into monster trailing plants, or over bits of the plot that don't matter.

[compostqueen]

I give mine 3 feet all round, but they end up all growing over each other. I mark the centre of each plant with a cane so I know where to water (if needs be).  As they get longer you can try and point them in the general direction of where you'd like them to go 

[MyAchingBack]

How long will one trail - 10ft, 15ft? I only have a small allotment. With all the other things I am trying to grow I am wondering if it is really worth the effort.

[mumofstig]

 that sounds right for the bigger types.
You could train it round and round itself in a circle, holding it where you want it with small sticks

[compostqueen]

Well you bought the plants now so it has to be worth the effort. That is if you will eat them when you've grown them. 

 

[MyAchingBack]

Well you bought the plants now so it has to be worth the effort. That is if you will eat them when you've grown them. 

 

I want to grow them for the grandchildren at halloween.

[sunshineband]

They also root from the bigger leaf joints, so if you curve the plant to where you want and secure it, it will stay firm after a while.
 

Once you have enough fruits set, you can cut off the very end of the growing stem, so the plant uses its energy to grow the pumpkins, not more and more flowers than it will be too late to have ripe ones from

[simonwatson]

I've grown pumpkins like Jack'o'Lantern and Racer in small patches by just guiding the main runner around and around. Two plants at either end of a 6' by 3' bed. They fill it completely and produce 6 good sized pumpkins.

[MyAchingBack]

I planted one yesterday evening in the centre of the allotment because I don't know which way it will shoot. I'm going to dig it up later and move it further to the side.

[Yorkie]

If its roots are not actually in the way where you've planted it, MAB, you can tell it which direction to grow by using sticks to point it in the right direction; no need to dig it up to move it just for that.

[Trillium]

I do as Sunny does - let about 3 fruit start growing then pinch off the vine after that. The energy is now directed to the 3 pumpkins and you can get nice sized ones this way.

As for trailing, yet, pumpkins can do that very well. I had one trail right out of the middle of the garden, down a wall, across some blocks and both into and over our pigeon coop. Didn't realize it had done that until I noticed the birds shredding the intruder   

[compostqueen]

Be sure to eat the flesh of the pumpkin. Don't just compost it    It grieves me it really does to see all that lovely food get wasted