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Rhode Island

it is paramount that your season get off on a good note.
that means

1. germinations need to be completed on time.
whether you pre-soak,file,germinate in a damp paper towel in a baggie, or direct seed into peat pots you need plenty of heat. 80 to 90 degrees.
2. the young plants need to be nurtured for a few days under a grow light.
we always place the young plant under a grow light for several days and also harden off at night in the garage.this system also works well if weather forces you to hold the plants indoors a bit longer before setting out into garden.
3. plants need to be hardened off before setting into the patch.
plants not properly hardened off will die within a couple days.
4. mini greenhouses ready with heat for night time.
get your planting area ready a couple weeks in advance of planting. be sure the soil is warm via heating cables or any other system you choose to use . (some also put those chrome clamp lamps onto the ground, moving the location each night).
your young plant must be kept warm or it will take forwver to start growing. ground heat is a must.
5.cover the young plant at night.
placing a styrofoam cooler over the yound plant at night helps trap the ground heat and holds it inside the cooler

pumpkin plants just as any other living things need the best conditions to prosper. if you want you plant size and fruit pollination distance ready by late june or early july? you need to plan ahead. dont let nature take its course. you determine its course.

hope this helps --- pap

pap

3/5/2009 10:26:02 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Thanks Pap, sound advise!

3/5/2009 9:21:45 PM

Midwest

pap

Your advise is timely. Thanks

3/15/2009 12:41:55 AM