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Anderson, IN

What do you think about the first leaf on these? They seem very light in color and are a little tight around the edges making the leaf curl slightly. I did some test plantings earlier and I used a general potting mix and the first and leaves were very large. On another test I used Black Gold Seeding Mix and some mycorrhizae and it looked much like these, thought it was the seed. I used this same mixture on these four. The test kin is still growing but the new leaves look similar to these. On these four I started in a small pot and transferred to the larger pots two days ago and used promix for the added soil.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=323336

4/20/2021 8:47:10 PM

Colorado

Its likely your potting mix thats doing it.See if they snap out of it as the roots get into the promix.Ive had nice leaf color with the promix.I put azos,mychos and a tiny and i mean tiny amount of water soluble fertilizer.

4/21/2021 1:08:28 AM

Bethlehem CT

I agree with Cojoe, it probably has to do with what is in the starting mix. Most likely a nutrient deficiency. (0r excess) would be my guess. You would be surprised to see how much media pH plays a role in nutrient absorption. One nutrient that comes to mind is lack of iron availability with high pH.

4/21/2021 5:53:55 AM

Grittyville, WA

I suspect the ph swings a lot in these mixes. And when that happens the nutrients may be balanced, but the absorption will not be balanced. A good mix will be stable but the reality is most mixes are not... Temperature and humidity will also be a big factor in getting normal growth.
A stable ph and keeping temps below about 75 after germination could make a difference. The water you use could be a factor in getting the correct balance of calcium and micronutrients. It can be frustrating but the reality is that your patch condition will be a bigger factor in your pumpkin size.
So its not the end of the world because if you put them in good patch soil, the ugly ducklings do quickly become swans. If your plants have the genetics to be swans, then how they started out will soon become far less important than you would think...

4/21/2021 10:43:23 AM

Georgia

Next Tuesday it is suppose to be 80 degrees in Anderson, IN. You might want to think about letting them get some afternoon sunshine.

4/21/2021 1:01:03 PM

Anderson, IN

Thanks all, kind of figured something with the Black Gold Mix and hoping it would grow out of it. I am looking to put in my hoops on Sunday nice and warm in there with filtered sun. My original test plant is in there now and doing well unless you think I should hold off or maybe just try one for now. Second leaf is well on its way out.

4/21/2021 1:16:17 PM

Bethlehem CT

Gritty you are correct, the pH does change as the mix ages, I believe it trends up.

4/21/2021 3:28:37 PM

Bethlehem CT

I cut and pasted this from the pro mix website.
Growing media are packaged with relatively low moisture, so the limestone does not activate for some time; therefore, freshly packaged growing media may have a pH of 4.5-4.9 (saturated media extract test method or S.M.E.). Over time, the limited moisture within the package of an unused growing medium slowly dissolves the limestone, resulting in an older, unused growing medium having a higher pH than when it was first manufactured. This change in the pH will occur a little faster if the moisture content of the growing medium is higher. Typically the pH of an unused PRO-MIX product that is 4-9 months old is 5.2-5.8 (S.M.E. method), depending on the product and the moisture content. A growing medium should be used within nine to twelve months of its manufacturing date to ensure that the pH of the unused growing medium is not too high. However, the starter fertilizer charge and wetting agent degrade over time, which often dictates the best time to use the growing medium.

4/21/2021 3:43:39 PM

Syracuse, NY

In any event, no INTENSE sun even if going through plastic; I know what you said, and yer good to go with that; The only problem I've ever had with my plants (because I water always with Miracle-Gro, which is rarely mentioned anywhere, lol) was when I set one out thinking I was doing the right thing and it wilted almost to death on a mild day around mid May.

F'rinstance, my plants are always planted out under clothesbaskets, just for the level of sunshine/day and night cycle reference. Outgrowing those, they each get a Floating Row Cover greenhouse...Once they outgrow the 8' X 8' floating row cover greenhouses, no more babying, lol---eg

4/21/2021 10:41:32 PM