Re: Hope/Help for the new year?
Others who have seed to spare will no doubt send them for
the cost of postage. Pumpkin growers are good people. I'm
very new too (got a 100#+ last year in my first try), so
I'll try to offer some advice.
I'll plant in early may this year(southern Oregon), soil
should be in the 70s, about like corn or tomatoes. Plant
the seeds or starts in a prepared mound about 3 feet high
and about 6 feet in diameter. I made my mound out of old
cow manure and existing soil by spreading manure, tilling,
and then piling it up. Repeat ad nausium. When you have
your mound built, dig a hole in the top about a foot square
and six inches deep, and put a flat rock in the middle. I
dug this hole oversize and put a bag of potting soil in it,
but you still want the 12x12x6 when your done. Beg borrow
or steal a piece of glass that covers the hole, this makes
it a mini greenhouse of sorts. I may try plexiglass this
year, it doesn't transmit heat as much as glass. If anyone
else wants to comment on this idea please do, the glass
worked last year, so i'm not sold on the plexi yet.
Plant several seeds or one or two starts in the hole and
cover it with the glass, you may want to cover the mound
with some type of insulating blanket when the sun goes down
to keep the heat in. You may have to remove the glass
during the day if it gets too hot inside. I'll probably use
a thermometer this year to monitor it more closely. I'd say
if it's getting in the 80s it's time to prop up or remove
the glass, anyone care to comment on this and verify or
detract?
Pumpkins don't like transplanting, so if you don't direct
seed then start in peat pots, which you can then plant pot
and all in the dirt. I plan on trying a few starts this
year and see if they do better or worse than direct
seeding.
If you use the peat pot tear off any pot rim that's above
the soil to keep the water from wicking out of the soil.
Thin the sprouts down to one plant, I do this as they
crowd each other, always choosing the most vigorus and best
located ones. Thin by pinching the stem of the unwanted
plant, don't disturb the soil by pulling the unwanted
plant.
Water them when the soil gets dry by pouring warm water
on the flat rock, this way you don't get erosion and wash
out the plants' roots. The rock also acts as a heat sink,
soaking it up during the day, and giving it off at night.
This is just scratching the surface, but will get you
started. Go to Amazon or the local bookstore and get "How
to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins" I and II, by Don
Langevin. Both books are great, in fact Don got me started
by sending a sample book to my wife for possible sale on
her seed site. I read the book and now I'm hooked, it's
about time for me to reread them. I've got better seed this
year, and I hope I can atleast double last year's work.
Keep posting and lurking on this site, ignore the
infrequent flame wars and enjoy.
-
=====
Good fishing!
Matt Moore
Visit my Severum Page at:
http://www.virtualseeds.com/matt.html
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