From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Phoenix AZ

Hi all- I had ~60% germination within 8 days on about a dozen giant bushel seeds. The seedlings that emerged, however, are pale, and somewhat feeble looking. A few are still trapped in the seed husk. What are your tips for seedling care? Do you expose them to light? Fertilizer? Keep them on the heat mat? These are in peat pots in a perlite+vermiculite mix. Thanks!

2/16/2021 9:32:43 PM

Centennial Colorado

I got 90 % germination keeping the heat mat on and covering with press n seal. My seedlings were really healthy. I also used seed starting mix, Azos, and wow mycorrizae. No fertilizer was added. I just started mine too early and my plant never recovered from an early planting.

2/16/2021 10:11:03 PM

Syracuse, NY

Concerning only the paleness, yes, put them under what usually is the easiest, as in a normal Shop Lite of 2-4' regular white fluorescent 40+-watters as CLOSE to the leaves as possible;

You definitely want to be able to raise and lower them as the plants grow to maintain a ONE-INCH max. distance above the leaves;

I suggest running 2 pieces of clothesline through several (2-4) rafter-mounted screweyes as the mechanism, not chain (not enough continuous variability); Attach to each end of the light assembly, run through screweyes above and then join them, starting with the actual ends (tie them simultaneously - you're making a rope ladder, essentially) and the dangling remainder's knots serve as increments to raise and lower the lights TO; An additional screweye at waist level is used to slip the ropes' (you've held them together, tied a knot with them, made another about 1-3 inches along, and the next, and the next and so on) increments over to set at a predetermined height of the lights.

Crash course in 'pal2 lighting style, lol!
***More deets if needed.***

Ummm, anything I've said I dunno about BGs, but concerning ANY plants, this'll also apply:
You want the minimum distance to the lights, if FLUORESCENT, to keep the plants from becoming LEGGY (!!!!!!!!!!!!);
I cannot say it emphatically enough, I swear, lol;

ANY other lights? Keep far enough away to keep from burning the leaves, at least;

I, too, intend to do BGs this year.
Said their groupies, lol.
Stayin' alive, Stayin' alive...ahhh, they were great---eg

2/17/2021 8:33:00 AM

Syracuse, NY

here's a grower diary that mentions and depicts, amongst other things, a Bushel Gourd or two growing, to help you;

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2018&grower=19102

Additionally, go to the Home Page Search Window and type in
bushel gourd
Hit 'Go' and head to the bottom (any other time; usually the text/discussion is at the bottom, whereas grower diaries and pictures are near the top);
Just follow this and any other diary and you'll see your future unfold before you---Good Luck!!! eg

2/17/2021 8:42:09 AM

Sharon, MA

I think HEAT is the key word here. I had 5 that did not come up last year because I let the germination tank temps drift down to 78-82F. I put another lot of 5 in and maintained a steady 85-91F temp and they all came up in 5 days.

2/21/2021 8:16:03 AM