From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Murphys, CA

I would like to hear some different ideas on how early is not too early to start pumpkin seeds indoors before transferring outdoors.

2/3/2010 3:39:21 AM

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

We start ours around April 25th to be set out around May 10th. A couple weeks in pots is all you want.

2/3/2010 6:51:53 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Start April 22 set out May 03 in hoop houses.

2/3/2010 12:54:33 PM

Maine

I don't think it is a good idea to have them started more than one week before you plan on putting them in your patch. Last year I started two plants two weeks early and two plants one week early. The ones that were started earlier seemed to root bound some and took a extra week to take off comparied to the ones that were only one week old. The one week old plants grew twice as fast in the beginning............ I am only a 3rd year grower and this is what I saw last year.

I will germinate the 1st weekend in May and into my patch the following weekend.

2/3/2010 1:08:17 PM

Linden California

@ cld92000
I live rite down the hill from you in linden.
last year I started 3 plants april 20th and they were all ready to be planted by may 5th(1 gal pots none rootbound)

Just remember to set them out for a hour or two of good sunlight each day to temper them if your starting indoors.
↑↑↑ It gets hot here quick so this is a must. ↑↑↑

2/3/2010 2:28:15 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

I start most of mine on April 25 and out on May 2-5. But that really depends on your pot size. If your using 4/5 inch pots for me it isusally 7 to 10 days. When you can see the first true leaf. You can extend that time by using a gallon to five gallon pail. In my case if it is going to be a cold spell when they should be transplanted I'll lower the heat to slow them down. If you transplant larger plants you will need to harden them off.

2/3/2010 7:45:32 PM

Murphys, CA

Thanks everybody, I think you all agree not to start too early, close to May is best.

2/9/2010 4:36:34 PM