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Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Soaked six test seeds on Sunday 3-9-03 for 4 hours from 2-6PM.
Variety is CT Field. Edges filed. Covers left intact.

3 seeds in 90* Water
3 seeds in 90* PGR IV hormone stimulant & water @ 1:3

Planted in equal parts milled sphagnum, vermiculite, & perlite (barely moist) at 6PM.

Placed 2 pots, 3 seeds each on geminating mat. Surface temperature is 103*F. Soil temperature (TruTell soil thermometer) in pot reads 92*F.

Today, Wednesday 3-12-03, two of the PGR IV treated seeds are emerging from the soil, visible on their own. A thrid soil bulge is present, but no way to see what's coming yet. I won't touch the soil in either pot.

No action visible in the water only pot.

This seems rather quick. I'll continue to post changes until I toss the test specimens onto the compost pile. I don't usually start pumpkins indoors. Does this sound consistant with other folks experience?

Steve

3/12/2003 11:40:15 AM

syracuse, ny

can you tell us who makes this PGR IV? 60 hours is beating any seeds i have sprouted ever by 12 hours...at my recommended 90 or so degrees F*...this is something i want to try also! 72 is what i always am happy with--could come in handy for a backup if a main plant
suffers a mishap! and it's always interesting to hear new techniques or mediums! i could look it up, but it's easier to ask you, lol!

3/12/2003 5:44:17 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

No problem pal. I set that germination mat at the highest temperature on your advice from another post. I know the seeds would pop early. I didn't expect them up this fast. PGR IV is made by Microflo Company in Memphis TN. Phone # 901-432-5000

http://www.microflocompany.com/

The Label:

http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld1IK000.pdf

The rate I used was very high. But Kyle Little got similar results with some very old seeds that apparently never germinated at all in his untreated checks.

This material is also used on cucumbers plants during growth to improve flower & fruit set & retention. This I have seen first hand. It could also help us to delay maturation which might allow for larger late season weight gains without splits. We'll see about that. I have no solid research data to quote nor have I tried the late season treatment to date.
Joe Ailts, Kyle Little, & myself are all planning to run tests with untreated checks this year to see if we can fine tune this fairly unexplored aspect of the material.
Rick Lingle uses it too. I don't know if he tries the late season approach though.

Steve

3/12/2003 6:29:06 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It's now been 73 hours. All 3 are up & reaching. Cot's are still in the covers, but one is falling off.

The untreated checks are still not popping.

Steve

3/12/2003 7:32:24 PM

Southern Illinois

steve the only reason i use pgr was to help increase yields on any vegetable plants, that i grow,i will be using retain and provide growth reg,and a couple more,this season,i am glad to see some people interested in using growth reg,i will keep good records, on the stuff i use,on this site.

3/12/2003 8:30:22 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Yep,I got results comparable with Steve's..a little longer but I had tough seed. My controls never sprouted, they simply rotted in the pot.
Brent Wolfley was kind enough to send me some expendable 1990 seed today..thanks Brent, so I'm starting a few more tests.
Stuff works but I'm not convinced yet. Hydrogen peroxide does a heck of a job too.
I look forward trying out, how and when to use it late season on a real AG to extend growth.

3/12/2003 10:20:01 PM

Usa

Can you test on just ol' regular Big Max or other smaller regular pumpkin seeds. Being new I only have a VERY FEW of the giant seeds and I would like to be able to test germinate non-giant seeds before using the few giant seeds I have. Would it do me any good? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks,

3/13/2003 12:41:07 AM

Deer Park WA

Have heard that higher germination ambient temps and artificial seed coat removal at a pre-natural stage may result in abby normal +/- relations in the adult plants receptive responces at/around puberty (Female flowers)???? In Example, a tendency for mutated plants either flat vine, multiple leaders, whatever appears to exist during extended periods of at or slightly below freezing temps early on in the season. NOT CELLULAR DISRUPTION BUT HARBORING OF THE PLANT FOR SURVIVAL. Another example of over killing the plant early on (right after setting it out) is all these wonder additativies... Whatever, plan know, plant soon

3/13/2003 1:52:08 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Azkikn,

"CT Field" is about as common as any other common non-AG seed there is. Took them off the rack at a customers garden center (he wouldn't let me pay for them). I'm not long on AG seeds that I want to destroy either.
Part of the purpose of this test includes the early growth paterns of the seedlings under controlled conditions. As Gads points out, strong outside influences could cause unwanted side effects on seedling developement. I know what the GA3 (giber in PGR IV can do for us. It's what it could do TO the yound plants I'm testing for. Thus the insane high rate. The treated seeds pot also recieved an EIGHT X soil treatment. If a negative response is possible, this should help establish the potential effect.
_________________-

THE PLANTS

We're at 72 hours as of 6AM
All three treated plants are up with cot's extended upward.
2 of the 3 have dropped their covers.
First & second up are 1.25" tall. Third up is .5".

Unteated checks: 2 of 3 are bulging & just visible.

I need to cull these guys to 1 plant per pot today, Which plant should we keep? First or second to emerge?

Steve

3/13/2003 5:53:02 AM

Southern Illinois

hello steve,if you need some ag seed to play with send me your addy, and i will send some your way.

3/13/2003 10:50:38 PM

Usa

Steve, this is really interesting!!!

Thank you, azkikn

3/13/2003 11:17:53 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Update:

Treated seeds are 2.25", 2.75", & 3.25" at 96 hrs.
Untreated seeds are 1.75" & 2.0" at 96 hrs. One is still not up.

All cot's have fallen off. Though I flicked one off a treated seed. This may be due to my lack of experience filing the edges. I used a very agressive "raspy file" & had to exhibit great care to avoid destruction. LOL

Rick, I'll accept that offer :-) Check your email for addy. Thanks!!!!

I will cull today to one average plant per pot & grow them on for a while to see how they grow.

Steve

3/14/2003 9:09:59 AM

syracuse, ny

well, as usual, it's wayyy past my bedtime as i begin reading of these experiments! i don't think i'll be able to sleep now!!! thank you for the info on the PGR IV...
sounds like a sedative, intravenous..apparently not, for the
test seeds! i'll read this whole page when i can absorb the info...thanks for experimenting for us........'pal

3/15/2003 2:27:50 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Final update on this test.

Tossed all the plants in this test & another like it on Saturday. The PGR IV treated seeds were much healthier than their water onlt counterparts. Leaves were larger & darker green. First true leaves set 4 days sooner than the water only seedling, some of which never established true leaves at all.

The roots on the treated seeds filled their pots. The untreated seedlings were healthy in the roots, but not as well developed.

These plants were grown on in a dimly lit window with no supplemental light (I broke the fool grow light). As such, the were getting leggy. But the PGR IV seedlings stayed shorter & more compact. Odd since GA# typically produces cell elongation & these guys were more vigorous for the first week. I think there was an influence on the treated plants low light tolerance, since the unteated check plants were suffering the classic symptoms of light starvation and the treated seedling were not.

Interesting. A new test is on now with AG seeds.

Steve

3/23/2003 8:52:23 PM