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Nashua, NH

I've grown "large" pumpkins in the past from generic seed packs. Last year's largest one at 130 lbs. This year, for the first time, I have seeds from 3 accomplished growers in New England. I planted (2)Peters 1011,(2)Pierce 1213 and (1)Wallace 1048. All came up in 6" pots. Planted 1 Pierce and 1 Wallace in hoop houses. Lost them both to frost(20's) a couple of weeks ago.Then planted 1 Peters & 1 Pierce in same houses, but now with heat. Both look great. On 5th and 6th leaves. I also planted a Wallace 1048 seed in the ground in a third hoop house with no heat. It's been about 10 days and has not come up yet. I think it has been too cool to germinate.
So here's my questions:
-What day is day "1". Growers refer to progress on day"22" or day"35", etc. Does day "1" start when you plant the seed or when it germinates or when you put it in the ground?
-I have read about how to self pollinate in my pumpkin books. I'm a bit intimidated, If I allow the bees to do thier job, with three different seeds/plants in the patch, I would not know exactly the lineage of the pumpkins. I know it is important info for some of you experienced, seasoned growers, but should I worry about it my first year? I'm just shooting for anything over 500 lbs.
Thanks for any advise

5/25/2005 4:39:16 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Day 0 is the day it is pollinated in my book, Day 1 is 24 hours later.
Don't worry to much about pollination. You simply take a few protected males and swab them in to a ready female. It is something you can plan all you want and Mother Nature has to do the rest.

5/25/2005 4:57:53 PM

Shannon (Linus) is talking about the age of the pumpkins..day 0 is the day you pollinate the female flower. As for the age of the plant... I don't think people keep much track of that. I keep track just for my own reference. I count day 1 as the day after I put the seed in the dirt indoors. Most growers are much more obsessed with the age of the pumpkins once they start growing, so they can know if their pumpkin is on track to be a biggun.

If you don't want to trade seeds this winter, I wouldn't worry about controlling the lineage of your seeds. However I would recommend it because you can get lots of good seeds by just trading your crosses with other growers who will give you their seeds in return.

5/25/2005 5:53:04 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

As far as the age of the plant goes in my diary the clock starts ticking when I put the seed to soak.

5/25/2005 6:04:23 PM

Nashua, NH

Thanks to all for your comments.

5/26/2005 8:33:49 AM