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Cologne / Germany

A little earlier I´ve already described some germination tests that failed, the reason was too much root starter for the seedlings that obviously "burned" roots. Now it´s the second round, things are doing better, but it was not okay to wait until several roots appeared within the plastic bag and then put them into soil, they are very leggy now. Next time I´ll remove the seeds from the bag right after germination and burry them.
Since I´ve heard that some people had problems to determine which way the main vine will go: what about keeping the plant in a large pot until it becomes visible? I bought a 12 inch plastic pot and cut it with a saw in two vertical parts. These parts are fixed with a tape. So if I want to put an already large plant into the soil (digging about 25 inch around filled with the same soil as in the pot), the tape is removed so the left and right part of the pot can be moved away without touching the root system. What do you think about it?
From BP.com I´ve received 466 Deary 2000 and 726.6 Eisenhaur 2001 (thanks!) My patch will be 23ft x 29ft, and plan to have two plants to cross-pollinate. Enough room? Which one should be the male part?
So long, happy winter growing.

1/25/2002 6:42:03 AM

Roanoke Il

I only let the plant get to one set of true leaves then I transplant it outside. Don't worry about which direction the plant will grrow you can always train it to go in the direction you want. I place a grow light in the cold frame, The plant will grow towards the light. mark

1/25/2002 8:53:15 AM

Liverpool , England

Yo Flohberger,
I have found that the vine runs away from the first true leaf.

Alun

1/25/2002 7:22:52 PM

Utah

Alun is right

1/28/2002 11:04:08 AM

new middletown ohio

fiohbeger:I use a margine or cottage cheese container, 1 or 2 lb. size. punch drain holes in it and put it on then turn upside down. now cut the bottom all out, fill with soil and plant seed. when plant is big enough, set the container in hole, carefully remove the top and slide it out.pick the container straight up. watch the leaves.the cone shaped plastic slides real well. try it you'll like it. rag

1/28/2002 10:40:37 PM

Cologne / Germany

Thank you so far for your answers. It´s still some time left for a few more experiments.
Just another question because soil preparation is the next thing to do: I saw some growers let two parallel plants run, guess it will be the same for me. What should be the distance between them when planting?
Ingo

1/30/2002 8:53:31 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Flohberger,
if I read your garden size you will have the same problem as I did. Last year was my first time and you cannot believe how aggressive these plants can get. I did everything wrong to small of space to much nitrogen and the garden was gone completely buried by the vine. they climbed the fences I had to rip out what i could half way through the growing season. Two plants might be to much start them and keep one for fertilizing that important female flower. Then you might want one plant take over the garden. Just my thoughts.
Chuck

3/12/2002 4:32:38 PM