pumpkins on the ground or on canes

i have grown some mars f1 hybrids from seeds and they are about 16inchs high now but some are leaning over and i'm not sure if their suposed to climb or go along the ground can any one help. :rolleyes:

 

I'm not that much of an expert on pumpkins, but I would guess they grow along the ground.
If they were to climb, supporting the fruit would be a scaffolding job. :D

 

Yep, scaffold would be required if they didn't grow on the ground.
This is last one we grew -

 

:D Or you can get a lovely lady to stand and hold it for the duration!

 

Now Mrs W. will appreciate that Nick. Ta!

 

Very nice Dave - the pumpkin's not bad either :D

When you grow them do they rest on the gound or do you put straw or something underneath?

 

I used to grow pumpkins till last year and i allways grew mine along the ground ..if you grow them up canes you will have to be carefull as you may damage the stems..I saw somewhere last week where someone grew pumpkins in their compost bin very successfull also..as they like lots of food and moisture..I used to put some straw under my pumkins to keep them off the soil..and i also used to stake my stalks to the soil by heaping soil on them then they get maximum nutrients.. you may find it best if you build a small mound to put your plant in then the stem will trail down and the root will stand a better chance..they are very thirsty plants and i used to make comfrey food for mine..my pumkin patch has now turned into a meadow..as i was fed up of battling with the elements..but i will miss growing pumpkins as i grew them for 11 years the biggest i ever managed was 28 pound in weight..Its lovely growing them because they grow so fast so you get instant results..

 

one other tip..grow more plants than you need as they dont take kindly to cold nights i used to put mine out early june and still lost some ..if it was cold ..wet or windy..i should have covered them at night with fleece or a polytunnel or something ..but i didnt think at the time..

 

That one grew in the small bed against the greenhouse wall where I grow my outdoor toms. I think I sat it on a couple of bricks. Just fed it with Tomorite when feeding the toms.

 

kateandjane1989: pumpkins grow on the ground with no problem, also because they can be enormous fruits, so it makes sense.
You would rather have to think of something to keep underneath the pumkin, so that it doesn't get damaged by too much water, insects etc.

 

Thanks for all the info. I thought it might be better to use something to lift it off the ground a little if only to help stop slugs getting at them.