When to start?
Hello All,
I have had a number of offers for seed in my e-mail first thing
today. Thanks to all that have offered us seeds. Seems like the 5 acres
could easily be planted in pumpkins after all!
Here in this section of Pa. We have early and late frosts, I know, we
all do. I'm talking about as early as September and as late as May. Our
first year here we had 28 degrees on July 10th.
When and how do most of you start you plants, especially those in the
colder areas of the country. I would think if started to soon the plants
would become "leggy" if not close to grow lamps or in a good sunny
location.
Is there a "secret" growing mix most start the plants in? Do we use
large pots to start plant in? I would think large would be good to cut
down on transplant shock.
Perhaps it would be best if I were directed to a few web pages,
otherwise I will be asking questions up to and after harvest. I will go
to the bookmobile and see what the library has. The internet is good but
we enjoy books, just pick it up and there's the info.
I recall reading a few post last year about the vines and pruning as
well as the direction of the vine in relationship to the pumpkin. I
guess it was related to stressing the vine and preventing the vines from
splitting?
There is a great deal to learn about "Pumkinology", word? I don't
know just made it up.
I mean where did this all start. I know of "Dill's". The seed is in
all the catalogs. Where did the crosses start. Was it with Conneticuit
Field pumpkins crossed with some other large fruiting varieties.
What is the difference between a squash and a pumpkin? ...and have
they been crossed to make bigger orange things? The crossing I would
think is done by hand, male to female.
How far apart should the varieties be set. There would be little wind
blown pollination, insects would do most of the work? See, way to many
questions.
What are these monsters feed? We have plenty of water here but they
must need to be fed, after reading some of the daily weight gains, I
know they aren't just drinking water.
I will look foreward to reading and learning more before it is time
to set the plants in the ground.
Thanks.
Gary C. Lewis
213 Oil Valley Rd.
Duke Center, Pa.
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