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Michigan

So, it's warming up nicely in the lower states...when is everybody planning to get started? I'm getting up some hoop houses this weekend, and plan to have my plants in the ground by 3/15 - 3/17. Are you southern growers getting ready to get your pumpkin on???

~Jessica

3/2/2007 3:21:20 PM

ordinary,VA

not that far south Jessica.
4/15 here.best of luck!! grow another monster!!!

3/2/2007 7:00:37 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Sometime between the 15th and 23rd of April. Depends on the weather at the time.

3/3/2007 1:06:09 AM

Cairo, Georgia

got it in the ground and growing strong,,,735 looks like the strongest plant so far!

Ally

3/3/2007 6:05:52 AM

Georgia

Ally, I'm surprised you're starting so early, with the length of the season not being an issue in Georgia.

I started April 20th here in Atlanta last year. My plant was done by mid-Auguest. Since I'm shooting for a Halloween pumpkin (and trying to avoid those cursed borers) I was planning to wait until May 20th this time.

But maybe waiting until May would be a mistake, I'd miss the benefit of the longest daylight days in June. Any opinions anybody?

thanks,
john

3/7/2007 1:26:48 PM

Michigan

Hmmm, I sure can't speak for folks in Geogia, but I know that here in Texas the temps in July (when most people are pollinating) are too intense to expect a successful pollination. I pollinated in late May last year and temps were already 100 degrees. I'm starting 2 weeks earlier this time around to give myself a little room to grow before pollination. Good luck and keep us posted!!

~Jessica

3/7/2007 2:20:47 PM

Michigan

how are your plants looking Ally?

~Jessica

3/7/2007 2:21:38 PM

ordinary,VA

Jessica i agree.
July in the south will make pollinating very diffcult at best.
would like to get mine set in middle of June.
May 20th might be a little late.

3/7/2007 2:46:11 PM

southwest MO

Any body ever use some sort of cooling to help a sucsessful polination?? Maybe a cooler and a chunk of ice?

3/7/2007 10:47:42 PM

ordinary,VA

need a iceberg to cool things down here...
but yes ice helps.

3/8/2007 5:40:08 PM

Michigan

Yes, I also used ice to counter the heat during pollination

~Jessica

3/8/2007 10:00:58 PM

Cairo, Georgia

Jeff was putting gallon milk jugs full of ice under a box with some holes in it to help the pollination and it worked for tylers 317 last year.

Ally

3/8/2007 10:21:34 PM

Georgia

I found that a couple of blue ice blocks and a box lowered the temperature roughly 10 degrees last summer. The temperature was 90 to 95 degrees the two days I pollinated, but around 80 degrees near the fruit.

Ok, maybe I'll push my planting date up... thanks for the advice y'all.

3/10/2007 11:17:38 AM

Michigan

Alright, getting seeds started today! WOOOOOHOOOOO!

~Jessica

3/12/2007 10:04:38 AM

Central Oklahoma ( water_proofer@yahoo.com)

I hope you grow another monster this yr. Jessica !!!! I think we will start around the first of april this yr.

grow a big one,

Jon N.

3/12/2007 5:48:11 PM

Michigan

Glad to hear it John, I'm excited to see what comes out of your patch this season as well!!! I hope to have the plants in the ground this weekend....maybe even on St Patty's Day! They will be protected with hoop houses, but only for a few weeks.

~Jessica

3/14/2007 10:10:21 PM