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Notes From a Big Hitter

Other notes will be provided at a later date.


GROWING GIANT PUMPKINS
Basic Cultural Practices
 by Joel Holland copywrited 97 ?

SOIL PREPARATION: Minimum space is approx. 300 sq. ft. per plant. 
Doubling  this space or even more would be an advantage, and will
generally result in  a larger pumpkins.  Prepare the soil by
cultivation. Rake out larger stones, clumps of sod, etc.  Incorporate
into the soil an inch or more of organic matter in the form of compost,
aged manure, peat moss, leaf mold, or rotted straw.  Adjust pH to 6.0 -
7.0. Prior to planting, broadcast a balanced organic or commercial
granular type fertilizer, and work into the soil.

STARTING SEEDS: Start seeds in 4" peat pots about May 1 - 10, depending
on local conditions.  The tendency is to start too early, which
generally works against the grower.  The plants will need warm soil and
settled weather to grow well.  Seeds germinate best at 80 - 95 degrees
F. Germination will be slow and may fail at cool room temperature of 65
- 70 degrees F.  A commercial propagation mat may be used, or a warm
micro-enviroramt found.  Some examples would be: 

Over a hot water tank, 
In the oven with just the light on, 
In a cooler chest with warm bottles of water inside, 
On a mantle near stove, etc.  

Excess heat is to be avoided and moistened pots must be covered to avoid
drying.  Fill moistened peat pots with a good  light potting soil.. 
Seeds may be pre-sprouted between moist towels to 1/4" root protrusion
and then planted one to each 4" pot, rooted side down and 1/2"	soil over
the rounded end.

-- 
Duncan McAlpine, Federal Way, WA
Why buy plants when you can grow them yourself.....?
http://www.eskimo.com/~mcalpin/
http://www.eskimo.com/~mcalpin/pumkin.html
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