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Aurora, IL

I am pretty new to growing giant pumpkins and have a couple of questions. My seeds have sprouted indoors and several are very long/leggy (8"+) with no first new leaf started. What's happening? They are in 4" peat pots and I am wondering if I should put the peat pots in 1-gallon plastic pots so I can add more soil to support the seedlings? I don't know if I should put 40 t0 60 watt lights on them or not. Also should I make another plastic tent with sawhorses to use with the lights?

6/5/2008 7:44:38 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

I would get them outside as soon as possible. Get them in the patch buried up to the cots..add snailbegon....harden them off by covering from direct sun for a couple of days only exposing them a little more each day till they're ready.....gro lights can't do this....and again that depends on your location and the weather is right.

6/5/2008 8:48:18 AM

California High Desert CinnamintStick@msn.com

I would repot them up to the first cots. Keep them warm and get them in some sunshine a little each day so you can plant in the ground when they get two true leaves. Have you read this in the How To section? http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=65

6/5/2008 11:53:13 AM

Syracuse, NY

either that or, when you plant them out ASAP,
practically LAY them into the planting hole, which should be dug as though you were planting, let's say,
a fireworks cannon or something like that, at about a 45-degree angle, i suppose,
and with any luck (yes, to know the direction of the
1st true leaf would be helpful) no matter the direction of
subsequent plant growth, as soon as it does start to grow,
it is already in the desired direction to begin with.
i had to do this in like '03, before i turned myself onto
flourescent lights 24/7 upon sprouting to KEEP the plants from getting leggy.
good luck, and be sure to put SOMETHING under
the plant to keep slugs, beetles, etc., off of it until it gets a foothold. i recommend WeedBlock (TM) from
Easy Gardener, available at True Value Hardware stores. EG

6/5/2008 5:49:40 PM

Reed Point Montana

I would get them outside as soon as possible. I am somewhat new to growing big pumpkins was i read that i should wait for the first true leaf to plant outside but from personal experience i believe the first true leaf method is over rated and waiting too long for a third leaf does way more harm then good. If you can see roots from your pumpkin or it is out of the dirt over a week you should put it outside as soon as possible or as soon as the weather permits cause waiting longer will just stunn or make a very spindly pumpkin.

6/6/2008 3:23:08 AM

Aurora, IL

I'll plant the tomorrow. I have read to put black plastic around the seedlings to provide heat when planting outside. I can do that, but am wondering the best way to protect them from direct sunlight and wind. I was going to use gallon milk bottles with top and bottom cut off for the wind. Two of them may be starting the first true leaf which is helpful since I have limited garden space and need to know the direction of growth.

6/6/2008 9:20:50 AM

Syracuse, NY

my latest bright idea is to use two laundry baskets,
one inside the other placed over the small plant,
one TURNED slightly so that the holes are in-total half their size (like polarization) with a square piece of plywood and a rock (not too heavy!) on top of it.
1. adequately protected from the wind, which, all plants need to keep cool and hardy;
2. there's your sun protection, although i myself have never had a problem with the sun--pumpkin plants NEED
full sun. it is the temperature of them IN the sun that is the problem;
3. varmint protection, at least from the size of a mouse-on-up. you should have SOME insecticide present for the
cucumber beetles such as Merit (Imidacloprid) also found
in Grubex but it is not LEGAL to use it as such---
i have thought to dissolve Grubex in a bucket and perhaps the Imidacloprid solution could be used then as a drench, but who knows how strong that mixture would be;
4. depending on the size of the laundry baskets,
the plant now has a safe haven for a few days to a week
to get established before the next phase of plant protection becomes necessary. that'll be up to y'all
to discover next week, lol.
5. CHEAP! READILY AVAILABLE!
6. although the baskets can collapse under the weight of the hold-down rock if too heavy, all that happens then is that the rock rolls-off and if a deer came along i would be in trouble. that'll teach me for putting a 20-plus pounder on $1 laundry baskets, lol. this whole thing is what i am doing---your individual results may vary;
see, i am trying it out for myself before recommending it,
to keep out of trouble on here, LOL! have a good day. eric

6/6/2008 11:19:54 AM

Syracuse, NY

PS---if it were to get near freezing out, you could simply put a clear sheet of plastic between the baskets, to retain any heat in with the plant. as far as a heat source, i am using a 40-watt light bulb in there,
(well, before, i was using 106-quart plastic storage containers) turned on at night and off at dawn. no need now, we are in a hot spell, thank goodness---eric

6/6/2008 11:23:51 AM

Aurora, IL

Do I need to keep them heated since it is in the 80's during the day and high 60's at night? I have read about different structures that growers use for the seedlings once planted. I am wondering if protecting them with plastic will keep them too warm. I am also somewhat confused about the Weed Block. Is that the fabric type material used by landscapers?

6/6/2008 3:25:55 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

yorunk, just plant them they do not need anything if you will not see frost, just use a hoe for weeds, dont get caught up in the details and feel you have to do everything that everyone else is doing. just put em in the ground so they can get started

6/6/2008 9:31:23 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I'm with Gary....get em in...if there not hardened off....give em some time from direct sun...keep the slugs away.....it would take three weeks for merit to start to work anyway.....stay away from to much love...just make sure the hole is soft dirt and dry on top...these buggers with warm soil will go crazy...no heat needed with the temp you indicate...get em going now....Next year you can prep for all the things your thinking about now. GrowEmBig!

6/6/2008 10:08:07 PM

Aurora, IL

Hey guys. I think I must be like new parents-to-be. Worrying about all of the details instead to doing something. Today they will go in the ground. I have noticed two of the peat pots have roots coming through the bottom. Do I need to do anything? How about watering them when I transplant them?

6/7/2008 8:20:55 AM

Syracuse, NY

just get the Don Langevin book
'How-to Grow-World Class Giant Pumpkins,
Volume 2' and all of your questions will be answered.
all these other experts probably read it at some point-eg

6/9/2008 4:53:22 PM