RE: Bound roots--WHY does ANYONE wait??

I am also interested if someone could reply to Matthew's post since I did
put one plant into the ground once the cotyledons emerged from the ground. I
wasn't planning on to, but the were 3-4 roots already an inch out of the
bottom of the peat pot. Was I wrong to do that? I live in Central Wisconsin,
and our weather is like a month ahead of schedule this year, so I think the
chance of frost is over for us. At night the lows have been in the 60's and
last night it was in the mid 40's because of a cold front coming through.

This is my first year, and the emergence of the cotyledons was very
exciting. I grew impatience the day before and started to dig out the seeds
in the peat pot. I saw that they were still alive and put them back. I was
careful not to do any damage. The next day, I had one plant that had leaves
the size of my thumbs sticking out of the pot, totally unexpected!!! 

-----Original Message-----
From: HE [M*@granite.k12.ut.us]
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 8:44 AM
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Subject: re: Bound roots--WHY does ANYONE wait?? 


I can't figure out why so many people suggest to put seeds in 4" peat pots
and 
then wait for the first true leaf to come out.  Why not put plants in the
patch as 
soon as the cotyledons open up?  I start my seeds in a zip-lock baggie and
put 
them in 1 gallon milk jugs when the root starts protruding (usually day 2).
The 
seedlings break the surface two days later and I put them outside 2 days
after 
that.  Since the tap root often reaches the bottom of the jug by the 5th or
6th 
day, I can't see waiting another second.  Why let roots curl around and
start to 
bind when that tap root could be growing straight down in the patch.  Makes
no 
sense to me at all.
But, considering that some top growers wait a good ten days or so, what is
the 
rationale?  My plants seem plenty strong at day 5, but maybe that's because 
the weather is warm here.  IDEAS?

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