Re: New to the list and to pumpkin growing a few questions

Heating pad works good for me on low setting as long as the pad and the
plants are not in a completely enclosed container like a cooler. If so, keep
the lid open.

Bob
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <MastaGardener@aol.com>
To: <pumpkins@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2003 1:09 AM
Subject: Re: New to the list and to pumpkin growing a few questions


> Hey Brian
>
> Let me attempt to answer some of your questions.  List, if I am wrong with
any of this information please feel free to correct me!
>
> First thing first, the best thing to do is have the seedlings under the
lights nearly as soon as they pop the surface.  You said that your plants
had grown to about 5 or 6 inches.  Is this the stem you are talking about?
If these plants haven't been outside or under any artifical light this is
probably the case.  They have become leggy (meaning long and lanky).
Artificial lighting will prevent this if used early on.  At this point you
have two options.  You could start new seeds altogether or you could bury
the plant up to the seed leaves when you plant it outside.  If you choose
the latter option, make sure to put the plants under some lighting until
they are ready to be moved outside.  So far I haven't had any problems with
leaving the light on 24/7, but also make sure that the light is at least a
good foot and a half away from the plants.  I have burnt several leaves from
having the lights too close
>
> As for the heating pad, I dont think it would hurt to leave it on right
now.  If it is a heating pad specifically made for plants I dont think it
would get too hot, but if it isn't, I would make sure that you dont cook the
roots.  Personally I just use the heat mats to raise the soil temps during
germination.  I don't have much experience with heating pads, would someone
else like to offer some advice?
>
> For watering you want the soil to be semi-moist but not soggy.  I
generally water once a day.  It shouldn't be much of a problem if you are
using pots with drainage holes.
>
> Many growers dust their seeds in a fungicide called Captan before planting
them to reduce the risk of losing them to funguses.  I would recommend that
you buy Sevin (insecticide) and Daconil (fungicide) to use when the plants
become a little less tender.  Daconil is made by Ortho and is now marketed
under the name Garden Disease Control.  Everyone has their favorites when it
comes to fungicides and insecticides.  You just have to seen which ones work
best for you.  Actually, most people struggle with containing and preventing
funguses throughout the entire season, primarily Powdery Mildew.  A good
offense is the best defense.  When the plants become a little more mature
(4-6) true leaves, you can start spraying.  It is best to do it later at
night when the sun goes down or early in the morning before the sun comes up
to prevent the leaves from burning.
>
> Two of the best books you could ever buy for growing giant pumpkins are
Don Langevin's How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins I & II.  A 3rd edition
of this series I believe is coming out later this year or early next.  Both
of these books can be bought on Amazon.com Believe me...they are well worth
the money.  Hope this helps! Good Luck!!
>
> Steve
>
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