To produce some pumpkins this year should I be trimming back some vines and or leaves?

Question

I have a short growing season in the Mtns of CO.  I really want to produces some pumpkins this year.  Should I be trimming back some vines and or leaves? have at least a few pumpkins started growing.  They are about egg size.  Vines are approx 10-15 feet in length.  It is Sept 1.  We will have our first freeze in approx 4 weeks.

Answer 1

You have to trace back the vines carefully to see how many flowers are on the vine........keep only 2 or 3 on one vine and cut the rest off.  Don't let any more flowers form as they will take away from your pumpkins growing.  Wear gloves to do this as they are prickly............if a frost warning cover them at night time with a tarp...........take it off when the temps are over 32..............feed them fertilizer like composted horsemanure and check ph should be 5.5-7.5.  Good luck with your fall crop.  Put some hay under each pumpkin to keep them off the ground