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South Hill, Virginia

I'm not posting this because I think I am the authority on all things giant pumpkin. It is just that I made a major mistake my first year and I hate to see people repeat it. If you are planning on taking your pumpkin to a weighoff that is around the first of October you need to wait and start your seeds around the first of May. Starting in early April will just leave you heart broken at seasons end. Believe me, I've done it and it's not fun watching your pumpkin rot a month before weighoff.

4/1/2003 4:50:34 PM

Western Pa.

Sound advice SV! I think it's basically a NEWBIE thing! (Boy, if I plant now I could beat everyone else!) This is "itchy planting trigger finger" syndrome! Granted some growers can start earlier, but if you want to show and not blow, hold off a while!

kilr

4/1/2003 5:09:20 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Very good advice. But someone, somewhere will still probably have to make this mistake for themselves. I've got pumpkins coming up all over the place here in my office. And not one will ever feel the real light of a May day. Fun though.
Steve

4/1/2003 6:31:30 PM

Myrtle Creek, Oregon

Then again there are those of us who have state fair's around the last week in August and then there are those of us who JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!

4/1/2003 7:19:40 PM

canal winchester ohio

I have to wait even longer than most. My weighoff isn't until Oct. 15th so I won't start mine until around May 12th-15th depending on the weather. But on the bright side, by starting that late I really don't worry much about building a coldframe...........Paul

4/1/2003 7:34:00 PM

porterville,california usa

and then there are those like myself who want to practice germination, seedling culture, fertilization effects, proper pollination practices, pros and cons of vine termination and/or burying, pesticide and fungicide application rates, optimum moisture content and method of disbursment (overhead vs drip vs flood), misting and temp control, plant size to end fruit size ratio, how to blow up a pumpkin, how not to blow up a pumpkin, and Heaven forbid...having fun! some of us are fortunate enough to have room for additional plants later in the season. others live where there is plenty of time for a second season. i`m lucky enough to have both... Heeeeeeeew Haaaaaaaw!!!

4/2/2003 1:00:35 AM

Grants Pass, Oregon

I will start my seeds on April 24th.

4/2/2003 10:53:38 AM

Montoursville, PA

North Central, Pennsylvania: I will start seed on April 28.

4/2/2003 11:26:10 AM

Utah

along with what most are saying... if it's not really warm enough outside your plants can struggle and struggle to grow at first and never fully recover even after it warms up. A plant that was started later can easily surpass an early stunted plant.
If you have to plant early make sure you take care of the plant.

4/2/2003 12:16:43 PM

Cooks Creek, Manitoba, Canada

Up here where spring weather can be variable, planting time is totally controlled by the weather. Like g1t said, no point in putting them in if the ground is cold and the weather is not cooperating. In a warm spring I'll start them as early as the first of May. In a cold year (last year) I didn't start them until mid May. In both cases I need to have cold frames in place.

4/2/2003 1:35:12 PM

Mineral Virginia

It's hard to practice self-control, but we will be starting our seeds around the 1st of May. We did start a couple the other night, but that's for a local fair in August.

4/2/2003 1:50:39 PM

Webster, NY

I start the end of April, or beginning of May, also depending on the weather. I try to get them in the ground, by the middle of May. I also have some protection for them.

4/2/2003 2:44:49 PM

Chico, Ca

May 1st, New moon, Farmers almanac.I'm superstitious.

4/2/2003 5:27:14 PM

Usa

If I plant May first it won't be too hot for the blossoms to set???

4/2/2003 6:10:41 PM

Chico, Ca

Diane,I see we will have to chat about cooling your blossoms when you pollinate with ice! thats what I have to do in Chico as it is around 100 f and they do not pollinate well above 80-85 f.

4/3/2003 12:17:19 AM

Usa

Yes, I was thinking about it because I know how hard it is to get tomatoes to set in this heat.

4/3/2003 12:41:14 AM

Puyallup, WA

C&R....try pollinating around 42°!!!!!

4/3/2003 1:24:41 AM

Chico, Ca

tomatoes need heat as do peppers to set . try a calcium spray on the blossoms. there are commercially available "bloom set" sprays for tomatoes. The one I tried worked well. Haven't really tried it on pumpkins though.

4/3/2003 6:37:26 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

nothing stated here yet

4/4/2003 8:40:32 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

should read started! hey it's early and i haven't had my coffee yet!

4/4/2003 8:41:21 AM

Deer Park WA

Spring has been very wet and cool this year so I will probably set my plants into their cloches May 7th or so...

4/4/2003 11:54:57 PM

Deer Park WA

I started May first last season and the plants struggled through about 2-weeks of freezing nights, I believe the cold weather early on resulted in several of my plants going flat vine. This is in 16X20 hoop houses with a heat lamp over the seedling. Again I recomend waiting untill warmer weather, all you need is 120 to 145 days :>

4/5/2003 12:02:07 AM

Oliphant Fce. PA.

I think Im going to start my seeds on April 28, why because its my birthday maybe it will be a lucky season for me.and its close enough to may.

4/5/2003 6:41:48 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

That is the best reason I heard to choose a particular date.

4/6/2003 3:10:28 AM