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Pumpkins for Small Gardens
If you have a small garden and don't want to see it overrun with pumpkin vines, follow these guidelines to keep pumpkins in their place:
Prune the Tips: While there's no way to stunt the growth of a vine, you can prune the vine tips. 'Clip the vines only after the plant has two or three fruits on each,' says heirloom-pumpkin grower Amy Goldman. Even with pruning, you'll still have lots of vine because the fruits need at least 10-foot-long runners, with foliage, for nourishment.
Pick a Better Pumpkin: Plant a variety with a compact growth habit, such as 'Wee-B-Little' or 'Racer'. Goldman also recommends growing the so-called summer pumpkins, like 'Rond de Nice', 'Tondo di Piacenza', or 'Eight Ball', which are usually grown exclusively as green summer squash but when grown to maturity are orange.
Lift Them Up: Trellising pumpkins that are volleyball size or smaller is a great way to keep the fruit accessible and save space. Buy or build a sturdy trellis and train the vine up the support. Make a sling for each pumpkin using panty hose. To avoid shading your garden, place the trellis along the north side.
