Re: season over??

Do you remove the paper towels from the seeds prior to putting in the ground?  Or do you let nature take their course with them and degrade them?




________________________________
From: Dave Squires <djsquires@ultraplix.com>
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:39:47 AM
Subject: Re: season over??

I don't bother planting sprouted seeds in a pot.  I put them right in the ground from the paper towel
in the spot I have prepared for them.  I tried the intermediate pot step before and transplanting from
the pot always slows and stunts their growth.  It seems to delay them getting a good start. They don't seem to like their roots disturbed by the transplanting process.  For me the wet paper towel
process is only to get them going so I know which seeds are good.  Once sprouted they go straight in the
ground.

I suspect you got them too wet if they died on you.  They need good drainage. I think maybe you
are trying too hard.  Relax with it.  This is supposed to be fun.  They don't need as much attention as
we might think.  Best of luck.

DRS

> On Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 8:07 AM, Debbie Runkle <yorunk13@att.net> wrote:
> 
>  
>> Well gang, it appears that my season is over before it started.  I did the
>> wet paper towel method to start the seeds.  When I first saw roots, I put
>> them in pots with started soil, added some water (all 7 germinated).  I put
>> my 3 chosen ones on a protected heating pad.  When there was a slight
>> observation that they might break the surface, I put grow lights on them.
>>  By this time two others died.  Then each day one more would die until I had
>> 2 left, which appeared to be doing ok.  Yesterday I determined that the last
>> two had died.  Although they had good color, they had wilted.  I started my
>> last 3 seeds in the paper towel and will direct sow them once roots are
>> formed.
>> 
>> What the heck went wrong??????  Did I add too much water to the started
>> soil?
>> 
>> Now I have to face everyone's questions on how the pumpkins are doing.  I
>> am shamed and frustrated.
>> 
>> Debbie

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