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Central NY

Hi all, was planning on starting germination process in the next day or two. I was going to follow the process in this youtube video. Any views on whether this is a good way to go? It's a 9 min video, but essentially it says to file down, germinate in damp paper towel in a plastic bag, keep in a heated area around 85', and it will germinate in 2-3 days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF-5lKWiNvE

After germination, I was planning on putting in a small 4" pot with with promix but worried this is too small. I also could go with a pot that is about three times the size. What do you think I should do here? Also, is promix the way to go here? Seems like that is the standard.

I have two choices then...I can either keep in a window in an indoor sun room, or I could get a grow light and give it the artificial sun for 16 hours a day. Question I have is whether this artificial light is a key part of the process or a nice to have? If it really helps the future growth, then I'll do it, but as a first-timer, I'd rather not spend the money on a system if the only difference is a couple days.

I have seen different views on when you transplant to the patch. Is there a standard to when I should go? Should I harden it for a few hours the first few days before transplanting?

Lots of questions here. Thanks all.

5/1/2014 10:11:57 PM

Springfield, VT

If you ask 30 different pumpkin growers how they start seeds each will give you slightly different answers. Personally I have abandoned the baggy method years ago. To hard to keep the moisture level right and I was damaging the cots. Currently I start seeds in 5" peat pots with no soaking or filing just sticking the seed in the starting media. The starting setup is a black 9x21 black tray with a tall clear cover and a heating mat all readily available at the local garden center. I have had 100% germination with this setup.

5/2/2014 9:16:21 AM

Central Minnesota

If you have the ability to heat your soil to 87 degrees and make sure it stays there you don't need to do the plastic bag method. If you don't I would use the baggy method. If the seeds are white soak them an hour, if they are brown with a thick seed coat soak them for 4 hours after sanding the edges well. Most seeds fail to germinate because they are to wet, not to dry. After soaking make sure whatever you put them in is moist not wet. If you go direct to dirt I would make sure the pot is covered for two days to prevent drying out.

5/2/2014 11:29:08 AM

Central NY

Thanks guys. Appreciate this.

Any thoughts on transplant time? Thanks.

5/4/2014 2:22:40 AM

Hinckley MN

Most growers time their seed starting so they can plant in the patch when the first true leaf is expanding. Others will pot them up into larger pots and grow them to 3-5 leaf stage. This strategy only buys you about two weeks and a larger transplant is more difficult to transplant and more likely to be damaged by wind or sunburn.

All timing is based off your weigh off. You want to pollinate 90-110 days before your weigh off. You want to plant out 45-60 days before pollination. You start your seeds 10 days to two weeks before planting out.

5/4/2014 9:29:57 AM

Central NY

Thanks Ben. Appreciate it.

5/5/2014 11:28:12 PM