From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Ray, North Dakota

All of the reading and research I am doing on the AG growing, people recommend starting out in a 6 inch peat pot. The only problem is that I cannot find one that big, three is the biggest. Also, what if I start out in a large plastic plant pot. How do I transplant without all of the dirt falling from around the roots? Anything is helpful, thanks again guys.

2/18/2006 5:30:11 PM

Belmont, NH

If you use a plastic pot for starting your plants in, before you start, cut it in half then duck tape it back together. When you are ready for planting outside, carefully remove the tape and the plant can be easily removed and paced in the ground.

2/18/2006 6:15:27 PM

Ray, North Dakota

And that works well? Do you pack the soil tight into the pot before you plant the seed?

2/18/2006 7:21:56 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Quite a few folks (including myself)use upside down round gallon ice cream containers. Just cut the bottom out and a cut up the side. Duct tape it back together and up the lid(bottom) back on. Punch a bunch of holes in the lid first for drainage. The potting mix shouldn't be packed in but just patted down firmly. When you are ready to transplant, simply take the bottom off and place in the hole. Then put some dirt around the pot, peel off the duct tape and finninsg planting your transplant. Be sure to bury the transplant right up to the cotyledons.
If you want large peat pots, try a nursary. They use these for trees. The problem with peat pots is that the roots of the AG's arn't strong enough to break through the tough paper of these larger pots. Some folks that use these, grind the paper untill it is paper thin and poke holes through in order to let the roots escape!

2/18/2006 7:35:13 PM

Ray, North Dakota

Ok there is some stuff unclear with the icecream bucket.
1. pack in soil, place on cover, and tape cover.
2. cut hole in top and poke holes in side and bottom.
3. to transplant, tip upside down? Then remove lid and transplant? I'm sure you don't leave lid in bottom of transplant hole.

When the lid is removed, I would think that gravity would make the potting mixture fairly firm to handle correct?

2/18/2006 8:29:20 PM

Syracuse, NY

get the Joel Holland video for '06 and for any other year.
all your questions answered in a 2- hour video---plus a few great potential seeds!

2/18/2006 11:33:21 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

herbie...place lid onto container...what was once the top, becomes the bottom. cut out the old bottom, that is now the top. when transplanting, remove the lid(now the bottom) of the container and place into planting hole...slide container off. Hope this helps Peace, Wayne

2/19/2006 6:33:21 AM

Ray, North Dakota

Eric, where do I get the video?

Thanks Wayne.

12 days to my newborn...CHILD that is. Then I can get serious about this pumpkin thing again.

2/19/2006 10:51:55 AM

ENGLAND

Herbie
Here is the direct link to the Video section of Joels' Website. http://www.hollandsgiants.com/video.html
Regards
Mike

2/19/2006 1:03:30 PM

Utah

Herb,
here is a picture of a inverted five quart ice cream bucket.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=8288

there are several more pictures here:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2003&grower=3085&action=L

2/21/2006 11:47:30 AM

Grove City, Oh

Try a net with realy small holes, set it in the plastic container and when you transplant the dirt will stay together, and you wouldn't have to take the net of, the roots should grow right through it.

2/22/2006 8:33:29 PM

Riverton, WY

Will the net be able to stretch enough to allow the roots to grow to the size of your thumb or larger? It seems like a net would eventually constrain the root diameter at the stump.

2/23/2006 8:07:23 AM