Instead of growing your pumpkins, you might want to try melons on the compost heap. Canteloupe,watermelon, etc. all love and need the heat, nutrients and water from the compost to really come along. Try them. If I had a choice between them, it would be melons and not pumpkins. If you do do the pumpkins, get a few small pie pumpkins. They make gorgeous pumpkin pies.