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Ct

When I start my seed indoors, how long in advance should I start it? In other words, if the last frost date is approx may 15th, should i plant the seeds indoors around may 1st?

4/16/2009 2:40:30 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I think rule of thumb is be ready to transplant into patch 7 to 10 days after you start the seed. 15 days is a long stretch. To long in the pot and you may have problems with the seedling getting root bound.

4/17/2009 12:51:41 AM

Nova Scotia

I personnal feel that 7 days from planting in a 4" pot is pushing the ideal limit. that being said you should plant by about May 1st then transplant into a hoop house or some other kind of little hot house by the 7th

4/17/2009 6:51:34 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

One gallon nursery pot=4-5 days plus maybe one day at most
3.5 gallon lerio nursery pot=6-10 days plus maybe one
5 gallon nursery pot=14-16 days

If you must transplant up, transplant up 1-2 days before you hit the end on the smaller pot. Getting them out by 5-7 days is best...

4" pot is like 2 days... too small.

4/17/2009 10:02:48 AM

Nova Scotia

4" pot is a lot easeir to transplant and less risk of plant damage than larger one's.

4/17/2009 11:46:33 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Just do pre cuts of the pot sides, duct tape together, and line with a layer of newspaper. The paper will decompose quickly and completely and protect the roots during transplant. Just untape the pot and set in hole...

4/17/2009 6:30:09 PM

Nova Scotia

I always see the paper or peat pot during the fall till

4/17/2009 8:15:59 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Peat pots don't deteriorate, the newspaper always has (one layer only). I have some very intact peat pots (not on pumpkins) that I retrieved a year later out of ground... hunt in my 2008 diary for a picture of one...

4/17/2009 11:01:45 PM

Ohio

If you plant with a peat pot, rip(carefully) the bottom half of the peat pot before planting it the hole, cause like Gal says, sometimes they deteriorate to slowy for your roots to escape into the soil.

I always plant mine as soon as I can barely see the first true leaf starting ( I sometimes use a magnify glass), mine dont stay in the peat pots long before they hit the hoops.

4/18/2009 5:08:36 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Great advice Brooks!!! Peace, Wayne (esp) the carefully part!!!

4/21/2009 12:15:49 AM

Aurora, IL

What happens if you do not have access to a hoop or hot house once transplanted? I was going to build a mini-hot house out of plexi-glass indoors based on the assumption that I was going to use peat pots. Many threads that I have read indicate that plastic pots are the way to go. Therefore, my hot house idea is out the window. It appears that my only option may be to raise the heat in the room that i will be starting them in to 80+ degrees by using a little heater. I'm confused now.

4/26/2009 9:14:09 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

'shelter' once outdoors can be quite creative. You can use plastic pots in a 'hot house' situation.

A lot use styrofoam coolers, sterilite containers, and varying mounts of a lightbulb for heat, a rack to hold the pots, etc; for warming and starting.

Look through grower diaries, a lot share their sprouters and early starting techniques complete with pictures.

4/26/2009 10:28:05 AM

Woburn, MA.

Here is a link to a simple cold frame.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=54

4/26/2009 7:43:56 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Yo, runk...if no outdoor hoop house is available...then you wait till soil temp is near 70F, and you are def. past last frost date!!! Then 5-10 prior to then, start your seeds...and when you see first true leaf...plant outdoors!!!Any last second weather badness can be handled at this point w/something as simple as a styro cooler over the plant w/ a gallon jug of hot water, to keep it warm overnight!!! It is up to yer imagination to get em goin...I think I remeber seeing 4 sticks and a roll of saran wrap and 2 milk jugs full of hot water...used once in an emergency!!!! Peace, Wayne

4/27/2009 10:39:01 PM

Aurora, IL

Thank you for the info. Do most growers go with the plastic pots indoors now?

4/28/2009 9:50:40 AM

Woburn, MA.

I like the idea of the Edy's Ice cream containers. The wax on the inside makes it easy to get the plant out and it gives you an excuse to eat more ice cream. It's a win win situation.

4/28/2009 11:15:37 PM