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Rhode Island

LOTS OF NEW GROWERS JOIN THE "HUNT FOR ORANGE OCTOBER" EVERY YEAR.

SOME ENJOY EARLY SUCCESS ( VIRGIN SOIL IS USUALLY LOADED WITH UNUSED NUTRIENTS ) WHILE OTHERS SEEM TO GET DISCOURAGED AND WALK AWAY.
THIS IS A GREAT HOBBY. ONE THAT IF YOU GIVE IT ENOUGHT TIME WILL HAVE ITS REWARDS. A GREAT FAMILY ACTIVITY AS WELL.
IF YOU FOLLOW THESE SUGGESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE A MORE ENJOYABLE RESULT

1. GET A SOIL TEST AND HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING READ IT FOR YOU. THE SOIL REPORT SHOULD ALSO OFFER SUGGESTION AS WELL. JUST TELL THEM YOU ARE GROWING PUMPKINS.
YOUR SOIL IS THE NUMBER ONE INGREDIENT TO SUCCESS.

2. PLANT SEEDS THAT HAVE PROVEN TO GROW GOOD SIZE PUMPKINS.

3. GET A MENTOR TO ADVISE YOU. NOTHING BEATS A MENTOR WHO KNOWS WHAT HE OR SHE IS DOING. --- IT SAVES YOU FROM MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES

4. PREPARE YOUR GARDEN WITH SOIL REPORT IN HAND.ADD SOME COMPOSTED ORGANIC MATTER SUCH AS COW OR HORSE MANURE AND ROTO TILL IN

5.BUY SOME "HOW TO" BOOKS. READ THEM SEVERAL TIMES--A LOT TO LEARN IN THESE BOOKS. DON LANGEVIN HAS SEVERAL AVAILABLE.
DICKS TIPS 2 IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR CHEAP MONEY AS WELL.

6.GROW IN A SUNNY LOCATION, WATER AS NEEDED BUT DONT SATURATE.

7.LOOK FOR PROBLEMS AROUND THE BASE OF PLANT AND DOWN THE MAIN VINE DAILY --- ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU SEE SOMETHING UNUSUAL.

8. GET ON A DECENT INSECT AND DISEASE SPRAY PROGRAM.YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH LITTLE SPRAYING IN A NEW GARDEN BUT BY THE SECOND OR THIRD YEAR YOU WONT. CUCUMBER BEETLES AND SQUASH VINE BORERS ARE PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE.

9. PRACTICE GERMINATING SEEDS THIS WINTER. NO WINDOW SILLS PLEASE. THESE SEEDS NEED A CONSTANT TEMP OF 85 TO 90 DEGREES AND SHOULD BE IN A SEED STARTING MIX, NOT POTTING SOIL. SAND LIGHTLYAROUND EDGES OF SEED BEFORE PLANTING. LAY SEED ON ITS SID, COVER WITH 1/4 INCH OF SEED STARTER, KEEP MOIST NOT SATURATED.

10. HAVE FUN, MAKE NEW FRIENDS, PASS IT ALONG.

PAP

1/6/2009 8:31:35 AM

North of FRANCE

Yes Pap, this is how i will start my second year of growing!

Help that i need is on Bp.com.... !!! Stéphane(FRANCE)

1/6/2009 8:47:09 AM

Thanks Pap great tips!!

Martin

1/6/2009 9:05:09 AM

Buffalo, new York, USA

Pap: Clarify #9 Please; Is that "Lay it on the side??? "I've been puting it pointey end down an covering with 1/2 inch of seed starter mix. This 2nd year grower is still having poor germination results???

1/6/2009 10:13:51 AM

Bristol,RI,USA.

Great tips PAP ! that is why you are on top year after year 2009 is the year of PAP !!!!

1/6/2009 4:09:58 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Zander, usually you lay a seed flat, point down makes the seed 'too deep', which will make for poor germination. I usually like to prespout by lightly filing seed edges (not the point) and soaking for several hours in room temp tap water, then putting in a waterproof container between two sheets of wet paper toweling and keeping at 85-88F. I can check easily for signs of sprout, and when I get roots and seed case cracking (usually in a few days) I then plant it into prewetted soilless potmix in a precut gallon pot taped together and lined with a layer of newspaper. After 5 days the sproutling is up, showing me where true leaf #1 is and more, and ready to go into ground with newspaper but without pot. Dirt sprouting is a little longer and can have poorer results. You can always 'test germ' some nobody-cares seeds for practice.... from filing to ready to go in ground is usually 7-10 days. Pap gets great results with dirt start which should take about the same time... I like knowing the seed sprouted before I put it in the dirt. :) Note on #4, COMPOSTED... and #5, buy the DT2 book! It's always 'year of PAP, he grows rings around us all, heh.

1/6/2009 6:09:02 PM

Frisco, TX

Thanks for the tips. This was my first year and I got slammed by the SVB's. It is so hard to spray all the bottoms of the leaves. Is there any other way to get protection?

1/7/2009 12:43:49 AM

Colorado Springs.Co

Pap you would make a great educator, even going into my second year and with all the research I have done you have a way of reminding us of the most important fundamentals. God bless.

1/7/2009 1:05:01 AM

Walton N.y.

i would like to add treat this as a hobby and enjoy spending time in the garden and use the clubs and seminars as a way to meet new friends. growing any type of plants can give you a break from the stresses of everyday life rememer life is short so take time to smell the pumpkin flowers and to quote rocky rivard the pumpkins know if your happy and will grow with you to spread your happiness and no i didn't do acid in the 60's

1/7/2009 8:48:33 AM

Rhode Island

zander

for years we have sanded the outer edges of seed, then placed ( point down ) into the seed starter and covered with a 1/4 inch of starter mix. it works just fine.

i suggested laying the seed on its side because new growers tend to tear the seed leaf when pulling the seed shell off after germination.
laying the seed on its side in a lot of cases causes the young seedling to pull itself away from the shell as it sprouts.

either way works fine,
pre soak or pre sprouting in warm wet paper inside a plastic bag as noted above also works well.

pap

1/7/2009 8:52:09 AM

Buffalo, new York, USA

Pap: Thanks for answering my questions.

1/7/2009 10:21:46 AM

Gold Hill, Oregon

good point on filing the edges. i lost a plant last year because the shell didn't come off the seedling. after about a week i carefully pulled the shell off. it didn't make it very long. i'm filing mine this year.

1/11/2009 12:14:16 AM