You can go to Amazon an order one of Don Langevin's books on growing giant pumpkins.
The info in the book can be applied to any pumpkin not just giants.
Well I filed the tips as suggested (Hope I Did it correctly), I also soaked them overnight and they will be started in the house this afternoon I have 6 big max
and 28 regular pumpkins to start. I had a fast question before I start.
Does the orientation of the seed matter when I place it in the starting media?
I thought I read somewhere to start them Point Down Just want to make sure this is correct...
Jon
PS Johnny123 I sent a PM to you
and 28 regular pumpkins to start. I had a fast question before I start.
Does the orientation of the seed matter when I place it in the starting media?
I thought I read somewhere to start them Point Down Just want to make sure this is correct...
Jon
PS Johnny123 I sent a PM to you
I started mine in plastic baggies and on paper towels. I get plenty of germination from them and didn't have to do anything fancy! Although, I have big max's I was trying to start as well and none of them really germinated. The regular pumpkins, however, did nuts!Chaesman wrote:Well I filed the tips as suggested (Hope I Did it correctly), I also soaked them overnight and they will be started in the house this afternoon I have 6 big max
and 28 regular pumpkins to start. I had a fast question before I start.
Does the orientation of the seed matter when I place it in the starting media?
I thought I read somewhere to start them Point Down Just want to make sure this is correct...
Jon
PS Johnny123 I sent a PM to you
And, yes, point down since that is where the roots come out from- I would leave the rounded tip sticking up out of the soil though.
Would also (personally) recommend not using the miracle gro stuff on any plants, though. I used it last year and they got all busy, but never really produced anything.
This year, I just put them in the garden with some compost and good soil, and they love it
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When I start them inside without a heat mat the roots start showing in 5 to 6 days.
With the heat mat I have had them popping out of the soil in less than 10 days.
No heated soil and they will be slow.
Pumpkins and squash like heat.
When you put them outside have some soil hilled up and ready for them.
Hilled soil stays warm.
With the heat mat I have had them popping out of the soil in less than 10 days.
No heated soil and they will be slow.
Pumpkins and squash like heat.
When you put them outside have some soil hilled up and ready for them.
Hilled soil stays warm.
A few other things you can do:
After the pumpkin starts growing cut off the roots that start under the leaf stems on the main vine back around 3 feet or more so the vine can lift off the ground freely as the pumpkin get's bigger.
Loosen the soil and add fertilizer under every leaf stem on the main vine so the roots that will start growing from the main vine have good loose fertilized soil.
If you try Pumpkin Pro besides the main root also add some to the soil under each leaf stem on the main vine.
This fungus will help the roots draw more than they would untreated.
After the pumpkin starts growing cut off the roots that start under the leaf stems on the main vine back around 3 feet or more so the vine can lift off the ground freely as the pumpkin get's bigger.
Loosen the soil and add fertilizer under every leaf stem on the main vine so the roots that will start growing from the main vine have good loose fertilized soil.
If you try Pumpkin Pro besides the main root also add some to the soil under each leaf stem on the main vine.
This fungus will help the roots draw more than they would untreated.
Excellent points Johny123 I plan on discusing vine care pumpkin selection pruning ect. as my vines develope. Pics of how to's would be awsome when the time comes right now I am just concentration on getting them germinated
UPDATE: 2 jackolatern sprouts started to break through today None of the giants yet but I am hopefull will keep you posted..
Jon
UPDATE: 2 jackolatern sprouts started to break through today None of the giants yet but I am hopefull will keep you posted..
Jon
Ok will move them out in the sun today and see how they like that also I am up to 10 jackolantern still non of the big max? but I remain hopefull.
also should I carfullt remove the heavy husks or should I let nature work its course?
Today we are gonna till the patch then we will build the hills and get ready to transplant. Gotta have the ducks in a row
Jon
also should I carfullt remove the heavy husks or should I let nature work its course?
Today we are gonna till the patch then we will build the hills and get ready to transplant. Gotta have the ducks in a row
Jon
Ok I left the hulls on them as mentioned and some came off today. I also had them out in the sun allday just brought them in for the eveing for warmth. They seemed to love the sun I was shocked when I brought them in a couple went from barley breaking soil to atleast 2 inches in about 12 hours.
Do they allways grow this fast?
Also noted it looks like 2 or three of the Big Max Pumpkin plants are getting ready to break the soil (I noticed it looks like the soil is being pushed up)
Didn't get the tilling done today ended up with a few other things that took presidence. I am going to attempt the tilling tommorow eveing.
I have a mound of chicken manure that has been composting in my back yard for 3 to 4 months now (high nitrogen)
should I go ahead and Mix that into the mound areas???
Thanks
Jon
Do they allways grow this fast?
Also noted it looks like 2 or three of the Big Max Pumpkin plants are getting ready to break the soil (I noticed it looks like the soil is being pushed up)
Didn't get the tilling done today ended up with a few other things that took presidence. I am going to attempt the tilling tommorow eveing.
I have a mound of chicken manure that has been composting in my back yard for 3 to 4 months now (high nitrogen)
should I go ahead and Mix that into the mound areas???
Thanks
Jon
Be careful with that manure.
Just mix in a little bit.
Dig down as far as you can and prepare the soil and refill the hole.
The main roots will go deep and they get deep better in loose soil and preparing the soil with some manure will help.
I also like to mix in some time release fertilizer pellets that will keep feeding the soil for a few months.
Pumpkins are very heavy feeders.
Mound up the soil into a large hill for the plant.
The mounded soil will stay warmer.
This will be good for the roots.
In the mound I usually mix in a little triple phospate to help promote root growth.
Just mix in a little bit.
Dig down as far as you can and prepare the soil and refill the hole.
The main roots will go deep and they get deep better in loose soil and preparing the soil with some manure will help.
I also like to mix in some time release fertilizer pellets that will keep feeding the soil for a few months.
Pumpkins are very heavy feeders.
Mound up the soil into a large hill for the plant.
The mounded soil will stay warmer.
This will be good for the roots.
In the mound I usually mix in a little triple phospate to help promote root growth.
Thank you for the information Johny123 I am taking notes. Just sent my son after the gas for the tiller still have it planned to start prepairing the patch today forgoing unforseen priorities (I think I am free all day but that can change in a blink). On the Plus Side Horray we gave 2 big max giant pumpkin plants offically popping out of the soil this morning.
I am bottom watering at the moment will it be ok to add a diluted liquid fertilizer to the watering for the seedlings?
Jon
I am bottom watering at the moment will it be ok to add a diluted liquid fertilizer to the watering for the seedlings?
Jon
well the pumpkin patch has plants in it now.. I planted the 6 best jackolateern plants I had and one Big Max Giant pumpkin. They are all thriving and doing well. I also have 3 Whyatts wonder pumpkins that just sprouted they will be going out next weekend I think. I also have some Atlantic Giants seeds on the way to me I am hoping to recieve them tommorow or monday so I can get them Started as well
Jon
Jon
It depends on the cultivar jon. A little pie pumpkin will max out at a couple pounds no matter what you do to it.Chaesman wrote:You have provided me with more information about pumpkins than I have found elsewhere so far. Just Currious How big do Your Pumpkins get?
Jon
An Atlantic Giant on the other hand will only get to its biggest size if you pick off all the subsequent fruit. You've seen these fork-lift punkin's at the fair.
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