From

Location

Message

Date Posted

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Listening to what unkadan, pumpkinpal2, wait til next year, and Tremor said I was patient and with a little nudge my 1233Checkon finally peeked through this morning. That is 15 days since I planted it in the pot. WOOHOO! The other one did not make it but at least one did. On the other hand I could not find a heat mat anywhere in northeastern Pennsylvania. I either looked or called everywhere that I could think of from Honesdale to Berwick. Will probably start another seed. Hope to plant it outside in time. Yeah I know, patience.

5/17/2006 8:19:26 PM

ordinary,VA

good luck. hope you grow a BIG one.

5/17/2006 8:35:41 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

If I recall correctly, the 1233 Checkon produced one 1000 lber. and one over 900 lber. last year. I think it could prove to be a very good seed, if enough growers give it a try.

5/17/2006 9:11:37 PM

Indiana

Rootbeer
Check ebay for a used waterbed heater,They work great as a starting mat and are much cheaper!

Steve

5/17/2006 9:27:23 PM

I second the waterbed heater,works great here,,I put the probe in a pot same size and contents get the temp at 85 and your cooking !! I have it under the side of a 45 gallon tall aquarium,,laid flat with a piece of insul board for a door,,all items pretty common at garage sales. That size tank will hold 10 coffee cans,,or 2 flats.

Glad it popped for you,,good luck !!

5/17/2006 9:38:34 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I use a styrofoam cooler on top of a oil filled radiator type heater...fairly easy to regulate temp in soil to 85 degrees. Just another possibility. Peace, Wayne
ps...I sprout my tomato, pepper, etc. seeds on top of a heating pad, ya know, like used for sore muscles...works well also, leave a gap btween pad and pots...enclose with towels to trap in heat, etc...experiment and you will figure it out...congrats on your extreme patience!!!!!

5/17/2006 10:08:51 PM

[email protected]

Good job.....like the others said - Grow 'em big!

5/17/2006 11:09:14 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Thanks for the hopeful wishes. But Doug, I really would be satisfied with both of them at the end of the year at 500 lbs. My son really wants to grow one 800 lbs "would be nice" he said. Well I am the financial aspect and he does the physical work this year. But I know as long as he beats 459 lbs then he would be satisfied. 800 and he would really be happy. The best thing last year was family and relatives coming over to look at our pumpkins. Especially when they brought their children and grandchildren and took pictures.

5/18/2006 2:31:05 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Those are priceless memories RootbeerMaker.
Good luck!

5/18/2006 6:48:52 PM