Re: Inside
Tom
I can give you an opinion from an Eastern Ontario-ite.
You are correct that Victoria Day is the date that they say you are not
likely to get a frost after, but that is IMO a little to late for
transplanting outside.
I am just west of Ottawa and I usually plant the first of May with
transplant within 10-14 days. After 14 days they are starting to get too big
and take too much set back.
Last year I planted May 2 and moved outside May 14th. I transplant into the
garden in the prepared spot - then place a truck tire around the transplant.
I find this works great as it provides great protection from the wind ( as
the plant is shorter than the tire at that point) , and the tire edges give
a little bit of shade during parts of the day. Then at nights I cover the
tire with the same 2 x 2 foot styrofoam chunks that my pumpkins will sit on
later, with a brick to keep the styrofoam from blowing off.
By the time the pumpkins are outgrowing the tire it is usually past Victoria
Day and I am usually safe in taking the tires off. Another good part about
the tire is the black color will absorb heat all day and then radiate it
back out at night. I try to get as much water inside the tire as I can as
this will absorb heat also. On nights that it is calling for frost I take 4
freezer size ziplock bags and fill them with water and place them around
each plant and these also will absorb heat during the day and radiate it
back out at night. Combine these heat sponges with the styrofoam cover and
on the nights that we do get a touch of frost - when I uncover in the
mornings every thing is nice and toasty in there.
Remember to bank earth around the outside of the tire also.
May try a slightly earlier planting this year (possibly April 24th area on a
few as this appears to be an early spring happening here.
This is what works for me.
Good luck
-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas Olenio <tolenio@sentex.net>
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com <pumpkins@mallorn.com>
Date: Thursday, March 09, 2000 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: Inside
>Hi,
>
>I grew up in northern Massachusetts, and we always used Memorial day
>5/29 as the "safe" no frost date for setting out plants. Now I am in
>southern Ontario and they use Victoria day 5/22 as their frost free date.
>
>My plan was to start my seeds indoors on 5/7 and put them out on the 22nd.
>Am I being too conservative?
>
>I would appreciate input from people in southern Ontario.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Tom
>
>On Thu, 9 Mar 2000 Pumkinguy@aol.com wrote:
>
>> Tom,
>> If you take the date that you would like to plant in the garden and
back
>> up 10 to 14 days, that is plenty of time. Beginning growers, sometimes,
think
>> that they are getting a jump on the competition by planting early inside.
As
>> you can see by the pumpkin cam, they get big fast. A big seedling does
not
>> transplant well. In connecticut, I usually set out the last week of April
to
>> the first week of May with small greenhouses for protection. As soon as
mine
>> come up....they are out. No hardening off to do, no transplant shock.
Down
>> south people are already going, but for the northerners, you still have 5
or
>> 6 weeks to go. Northerners, if you've already started plants.......you
might
>> consider starting some new ones in 5 weeks. Every year you will see
postings
>> where people have big spindly plants with vines, still in the pot. You
will
>> see a posting as follows " I transplanted my baby with a 2 foot vine the
>> other day, I already have flowers on it (stressed out from being in a pot
way
>> too long). Next day " Help!!! my plant looks like it is dying or very
>> weak....what can I do?" GET the seedling up quick and out in the garden
>> fast....weather permitting. A pumpkin plant will grow about 140 days
>> slightly longer in cool climates). If you have one in the ground now you
will
>> have a fully grown pumpkin in August just sitting around waiting to rot.
>> pumkinguy
>>
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