6. Get them when they’re ready.
Blossoms should be pollinated right after they open, in the morning. They stay open from about 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. But for the best fruits, wait until there are at least 200 leaves on the vine. Too much nitrogen can delay flower production and fruit sex. Phosphorous promotes more flowers.
7. Don’t move it!
Every time you move your growing pumpkin, you risk breaking the vine or stem. Even fairly small cracks in the vine or stem can invite disease. Best to put your fruit into a good position before it is too big and then resist moving it until harvest.