Kitchen Garden Forum

I only want a couple of pumpkins, once they have set can I snip the runner so the plant does not over run the plot or will this impair the growth of the pumpkin(s)?

CoMpO

One year I snipped off the ends of a couple of Sweet Dumpling squash plants when they were starting to take over my garden and it didn't affect the plants or existing crop so as pumpkins are part of the same family I assume that they will be OK. I was worried about a little sap bleeding taking place but didn't notice any perceivable difference. If the plant's energy is now going into fewer fruits, you might end up with bigger ones than would otherwise have been the case.

Hello Compo
I prune squash and pumpkin plants to keep them in some sort of order and it doesn't affect their growth. I never prune close to a developing fruit though.
I would let about twice as many pumpkin flowers set and then when you're sure you've got some good fruits forming thin out the weakest fruits. It helps if you can push some of the leaf joints along the vine into the soil. They will root readily and give you a much stronger plant and bigger fruits. The vines will throw side shoots so more pruning may be needed later.

John