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Owensboro, Ky.

Not positive as to the age of this plant, but guessin less than a week...you can see the massive root growth, in a very short period of time!!! Can you imagine what this root system would look like in a 4" peat pot!!! Peace, Wayne

4/21/2009 10:26:33 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Sorry, http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=102730 the link to the photo!!! Peace, Wayne

4/21/2009 10:27:18 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Just found it...this plant came up on the 16th!!! 5 days, and roots a mundo!!! Peace, Wayne

4/21/2009 10:30:30 PM

New Carlisle IN

Good point! Thanks for pointing that out Wayne. I've found that pumpkins make for very poor houseplants. I try to have mine in the ground as soon as I can tell witch way the first leaf is going to open.
terry

4/21/2009 10:58:07 PM

Rhode Island

if you remove the peat pot and transplant a young seedling into a 1 and 1/2 gallon black nursery pot( with several extra holes drilled around the pots sides plus a great mico based soil) you can keep the plant growing in a forced day light situation ( on cloudy rainy days ) and still harden off every night for several days longer that normal.
i have noticed in the past that there is always a period of time that it takes a small plant to get accustomed after being transplanted . and it sits there doing seemingly nothing for the first week or so.
by putting in a larger plant i believe you help over come a slow start.

heating cables and warm air and shelter at might early season also helps of course.
the key to competing is not just meeting the key pollination period ( late jume to july 7th )its also having a large enough plant to set fruit starting at ten to twelve ft out (minimum) between the end of jume and july 7th)

competitive giant pumpkin growing is all about meeting certain deadlines for the different plants/pumpkins stages of growth during the season.

4/22/2009 7:24:31 AM