I got a pumpkin plant off my lovely little neice about a month ago and it's now 4 foot tall, i'm growing up a cane but this feels wrong. What should i be doing and when can i plant it out?.......... Gorgeous weather in Dublin today

Hello CompoDub,

I have grown pumpkins for the last 2 years and I have just left them to scramble around the ground as they like. I have never grown them upwards, only alongwards (if you see what I mean) Mine are only small and don't grow to the halloween pumpkin size but I should think you might have trouble supporting the fruit if you keep them growing upwards.

Not sure about planting out but at 4 feet long (tall) it seems to be very healthy and as long as there is no danger of frost in your area....

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A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot! (Thomas Edward Brown)

If you try to grow it up0 a cane you'll need to support the weight of the fruit. I'd look at nets you can use for melons as you should get similar sized fruits.

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Not if you grow Atlantic Giant as I do! I wouldn't dream of trying to support half a hundredweight of pumpkin.

Best I would think, to find out which type of pumpkin you were given CompoDub? If this can't be ascertained grow it on the bottom just in case!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

I assumed it was a small pumpkin plant. Isn't it obvious a pumpkin you can't lift can't be supported by a cane

I've got Atlantic giant going as well. Its hijacking this thread but how much space do you need per plant? I've got a squarish bed about 2m x 2.5m. Should I just have the one plant in the middle or chance two plants? Also would you try and get two pumpkins per plant or just the one?

I'm ideally going for a 500lb'er

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...... and if you let squash sprawl do you have to put anything under the fruit to keep them off the ground? Can you let courgettes for example sprawl??

I'll answer my own question! Just read you should aim for 400 square feet It said the biggest fruit tend to grow about 10' from the tap root. Thats in next doors allotment then!

As for them growing on the ground I think its fine. If you want show quality veg you might want to put a softer material under the fruit to prevent scratches particularly on courgettes which have a shiny skin. Squashes which have a matt skin are fine on the ground. However, it is a good idea to place bigger fruit on a surface like stone or wood to stop damp. At least I think thats the reason?

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