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Garden State Pumpkins

Ok had the toughest germination period ever..all new method and chamber...lost the first batch...second batch lost due to family problems..started each one one by one about two days apart...OK..now we plants starting to germ and come up....harden them against a window and get em to the patch...Now here's the problem each and every one's bottom of the pot was white...as if the soil had leached all the perlite to the bottom..and roots weren't like they should be...worse yet it was sterile potting soil without perlite....first plant in the patch went down today..roots just aren't there..took pictures will post soon.

6/9/2005 9:44:47 PM

Commack, NY

Chuck, i say this, because i care :)....this just sounds way harder than it needs to be to me. Forget the perlite, forget the sterile potting mix, forget the hardening off. File 'em, soak 'em, put them in some moistened seed starting mix, get 'em in a germinating box, hold at 85° for a few days, when the sprout put a light above them maybe like 2" (florescant will work fine, i do it every year), when you know the direction of the first true leaf, pop 'em outside.

6/10/2005 9:14:11 AM

Knopp, Germany

if one puts "seed starting" into the site search option here, you would come back with more reading then you would ever want.

i think that farmer scott has summed it up perfectly in 4 lines.

Good luck, and grow em big Chuck!

6/10/2005 10:27:36 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

If Chuck didn't have Perlite in the sterile mix, then what is the white stuff he's finding???

Chucky,

Are you on a new water supply? New water treatment? Is the white stuff salts?

6/10/2005 3:12:57 PM

White Plains, NY

Chuck and all,

This wouldn't be the first time a manufacturer put the wrong item in the wrong bag.

6/10/2005 9:46:45 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Believe me Scotty...I always had 13 for 14 starts...The plants that remain look like they took in the patch...all new set up this year and I Thought I had it right...The plant that went down took it the hardest on the first sun days probably cause the roots weren't going anywhere..will post the pictures tonite...No water softener added to the new house..so it should be the same. Thanks for the replies.

6/11/2005 10:01:35 AM