When to start Pumpkin seeds

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

I have a co-worker that is going to plant a few punpkins and was asking me about when to start them, I thought I had seen that they only need to be start a few weeks before planting out. I am in zone 4.

[jungseed]

I've always planted directly in the garden. Any time after danger of frost is over. But they do say you can plant in peat pots 2 to 3 weeks before that to get a head start. So, not yet in zone 4.

[OmahaJB]

Read somewhere they can be direct sown or started a couple weeks early indoors, but to make sure they do not become rootbound before transplanting outside.

[montanamato]

I start my winter squash and pumpkins in 4" pots about May 5 or so...I plant about 3-4 weeks after that...They don't like to be root bound, but I have found they transplant pretty easily, even when large....
You gain nothing from planting out early...They love heat and will do nothing but go backwards if planted too early...

Jeanne

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Thanks for all the responses!

Craig

[huntoften]

All the curcurbits hate to have their roots messed with. Transplant shock is sometimes so severe that they don't recover.

Best way to do it is to make a special pot for them that you can take the bottom out of and slide the plantout of the bottom directly into your planting hole. I use a 2 liter bottle that I cut the top off of and then cut it again about where the bottom starts to curve. Then I tape the bottom back to the main cylinder. fill with potting mix, and your pumpkin seed.

When they get to decent size..almost ready fro their second set of true leaves, cut the tape, pull off the bottom, and slide the whole plant out of the bottom of the tube directly into the hole. DON'T disturb the roots! Tomatoes, peppers, and can handle their roots being messed with, but cukes, zukes, and all the squashes for some reason don't like it.

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Thanks I am only a tomato guy and I am starting her off slowly and going to give her sungold, big beef and eva purple ball this year for her new garden which she still needs to amend this year.

[Amigatec]

I already have my Gaint Pumpkin started and plan to plant them on Wednesday.

[robin303]

Hi Pat, Glad to see you here.

[geeboss]

some information on growing giant pumpkins, link below

http://www.backyardgardener.com/wcgp...s/10steps.html


George

[Amigatec]

Originally Posted by robin303

Hi Pat, Glad to see you here.

Yea I thought I would give this forum a try.

[Amigatec]

A better place to learn all about these is here:

www.bigpumpkins.com

Or even better:

www.perrysgreenhouse.com