I had a volunteer pumpkin plant spring up in the corner of my vegetable garden (the kids threw all of their pumpkins out that way last year). It is getting huge and starting to set fruit. I have never had any success with pumpkins, although I have tried desperately to grow them, and this one just looks soooo gorgeous that I want to make sure I get pumpkins off of it for Halloween. Would it help if I pinched the fruit off for a couple of more weeks? Or would it just not bear fruit period if I did that? And just how long will it take a jack o' lantern to be ready for harvesting from the time it is pollinated? Please help!! I'm so excited about this plant actually growing and looking as healthy as it does.