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Addison IL.

tilled the soil and its been warming under black plastic started my seeds 2 weeks ago under grow lights in 4 inch pots with miracale grow potting soil and they germinated quickly and are growing fast right now in the process of hardinging off slowly but surley my first day was monday one hour sun one hour shade. upon moving them inside 6 plants to be exact all with there first true leaves I noticed the first little leaves are a darker color then the true leaves and upon further inspection noticed small cracks at the base of the stems almost even with the soil its as if the way the plants are leaning is causing the breaking. I have them under grow lights for 18 hrs a day and slowly harding them off in atticiapation of actual planting may 4 I live in addison Ilinois and the weathers been crazy so I am going to hopefully move them into homemade greenhouse made out of 5 gallon bukets with the bottom cut out and platic as a roof venilation holes will be small as to not let in the cold can anyone tell me if the cracks will hurt my babies what to do and if the bukets as a growing aid will work I dont want to mess up so badly that I ruin my chances on the first of hopefully many growing seasons with AG's please help me in any way you can

4/26/2005 10:14:17 PM

wow, take a breath... inhale... exhale.... your plants are probably just fine. are the cracks going the same direction as the stem or perpendicular to the stem? You could start some more seeds if you're worried about these ones, it's not too late.

The buckets will help hold in the heat at night!

4/26/2005 10:47:49 PM

Addison IL.

okay Im breathing now sorry dont want to lose them they appear healthy and are growing the cracks are right below the dirt level and side ways across the vine almost like a broken stick when its just bent bad but not broken I noticed this when I was watering the soil sunk and reveled the cracks I covered them with fresh soil and they appear to be okay thanks for the help and hopefully all goes well next week any more advice for me would be greatly apperciated thanks so much

4/27/2005 12:38:24 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

if the splits go across the stem I'd get rid of the plants and start new ones.

4/27/2005 3:29:52 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Ditto that, There is more than enough time to start new seeds. Many growers haven't started yet.

4/27/2005 4:53:38 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

This is why most growers always start a few back ups. You still have plenty of time like everyone else has said. Grow them Big.....

4/27/2005 9:06:55 AM

Addison IL.

thanks so much for the advice and I am happy to say the pumpkins with the problems are healing with dirt and a lot of love hopefully they take but if not already have backups pushing up as we speak so all is well and thanks again for the help

4/27/2005 11:26:54 AM

Utah

my 1st "real" year I bought some seeds from Howard Dill. 6 or 7 of them, all from one package. I had them in small plastic pots in the oven with the light on to germinate...
... well you can guess what happened...
I forgot the seeds were there and turned on the oven to cook something ... I didn't realize what had happend until I smelled melting/burning plastic... of course every thing was a total loss... the seeds were cooked.
a kind new friend gave me an extra plant. So that is what I grew that year.

4/27/2005 3:02:15 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

LOL, Gordon! That's why I prefer other germination methods!
But at least it was yourself who turned on the oven!

4/27/2005 4:42:44 PM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

If you need more seeds or plants, I live about 10 minutes from you... My plants are going in next week

4/27/2005 6:28:51 PM