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Cochecton, NY

I am new to the pumpkin world. I have nine plants growing in my spare bedroom. I want to get them in the ground, but it is still dropping to the high 30's at nightplants are ranging from 4 to 6 inches tall and the second set of leaves are starting to grow nicely. Do have a few more days or should I get them in the ground and use lights for heat? Any help will be helpful.

Nick

5/18/2008 10:30:59 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It has been unusually cool here in the Northeast but let's get'em in the ground now. If you can provide frost protection when needed (remay, plastic, buckets, whatever) so much the better, but the time is here.

9 plants in the bedroom? Are they AG's? I hope the garden is at least 5000-7000 square feet!

5/19/2008 12:02:43 AM

Cochecton, NY

Three are AG's They are the ones getting the special treatment in the main patch, that is roughly 2500 sq/ft.
The other six consist of Giant seeds purchased @ a Home Depot and these odd blue pumkin seeds I happen to see in a local garden center. What I plan to do with them is see if they grow in another area and try some cross breeding of the blue and the giant to get a "GIANT BLUE" pumpkin.
My wife thinks that I have totally lost my mind. What started as an urge to grow a big pumpkin turned into a mental disorder!!!! I am hooked and don't even have a flower on the vine yet! Are there any support groups for us types?

5/19/2008 7:19:13 AM

Cochecton, NY

Another question I have that I thought of last night after I logged off is, How about landscape fabric to cover the bed. Possibly make slits under the leaves for secondary root growth? Would definitley keep the weeds down! My in-laws own a greenhouse, but they are too far away from my house to use there one empty green house to grow in. 2000sq/ft with heaters and fans. Would be nice to have! I guess we should have built our house on the property they gave us instead of selling it. Back then, I was not a pumpkinn junkie though1

5/19/2008 7:25:46 AM

Rhode Island

pumpkin plants roots need to breath and also have unrestricted access to the soil so all those beneficial tap roots that will form along the main and secondary vines can grow down into the soil

5/19/2008 9:12:14 PM

Cochecton, NY

So landscape fabric not a good idea? Even though it is porous? Woke up to frost this morning! May 20th and still frost. I think global warming is just flipping the seasons around! Hot in the winter and cool the rest of the year.

5/20/2008 6:33:13 AM