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Mn

Just a tip for those who either don't know or are new at giant pumpkin growing.
If you start your plants in doors they can be suseptable to the elemnts when you put them in the ground outdoors. One big thing that can be a real problem imdiatly after planting is wind. Wind can be damaging to a young pumpkin plant. Tossing them around and even breaking the stems. One easy way to combat this is before your plants are place outside use a fan on them. This simulates a gentle breeze. The plants will get used to this breeze and the plants will gain the abilty to withstand wind. If you can not doo this the next best thing is to plan the pumpkin so the cot leaves are as close to the ground with out touching the ground. This should at least give the plant some protection. If you shelter the plant when its out side (hot house) I would recomend you put the fan in the shelter. This will have an added side affect of keeping the plant from frying on hot days. Hope i helped some out there.


Alex

5/8/2006 8:37:33 PM

Deer Park WA

Set your young seedlings outside durring the day and bring them in at evening. Helps acclimate them to the outdoors and slows them down to your micro-climate conditions, great if frost is predicted and they're getting a bit root bound in those little pots!

5/10/2006 12:26:03 AM

Webster, NY

Gadberry, I do exactly that. The plants don't get leggy and get acclimated to the outdoors quickly.

5/10/2006 5:30:45 AM

Montoursville, PA

Very good advise. Next year consider at least gallon size potting containers and give yourself just about ten days from potting to the cold frame including a few days of hardening off as suggested here.

5/12/2006 11:48:39 PM

Long Island,New York

Make sure you protect them from the birds and squirrels.

5/13/2006 7:59:00 AM

Mn

thanks for the advice guys. Seems like it would be a better idea to just set them outside during the day. Duh.

5/14/2006 9:49:26 PM