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Buffalo,Minnesota

I am gonna get a jump on the season this year, as I was lucky enough to get some seeds from the new Minnesota state record pumpkin (926 Johnson). Would a heating mat with a thermostat be a good idea? Or should I just get a grow light? Last year I got a late start, first week of July, and all I used was a shop light held over my seedlings in an old fish aquarium. I`m thinking of starting my seeds about the last week of march to april 15th depending on the weather.

2/14/2003 3:10:05 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Middle of April is kind of early, I would shoot for more towards the end. These guys grow quickly and your soil will not have warmed up enough to get optimal growth. Are you planning on putting them in hoophouses? Here in Wisconsin our last frost average is May 15th. In 2002 on May 22 the low temp was 22 degrees, even with the hoophouses my plants froze solid. Had to start over, so earlier is not always better. Isn't the Minnesota record 1083? Shannon

2/14/2003 5:15:46 AM

Bemidji, MN

Trapman, Here in Bemidji I start seeds May 1st. Last few years I've used a waterbed heater for germination and it's worked great. There cheap if if find them at rummage sales and last for years. A germination mat DOES work great also,but they can run $60 for themistate controlled. Even if you start seeds May 1st, better plan on a hothouse for first 3-6 weeks for temp contrl. Gets awful cold in our neck of the woods. Steve

2/14/2003 9:45:43 AM

syracuse, ny

whatever you do, come up with something that will keep your peat-pots at 90 degrees F. my method will take me too long to type out and i gotta go, but similar will be a heater-fan on medium setting---get a digital thermometer from Radio Shack--ten bucks you can't beat it!, put these with your plastic-covered peatpots in a, well, perhaps a fishtank, covered to retain the heat, and a light source,
and, keeping this mixture away from anything flammable!!!,
set it up so you can adjust the temp at 90 degrees all the time-----forgot to mention---put the temp-sensing bulb in the peat pot with one of the seeds! at exactly the same level, for an accurate measurement of the SOIL temp! who cares if it's 110 in there? it's the SOIL we're concerned with here...once they sprout, do the seed-coat removal thing
i suppose they can stay in there awhile, be sure to use a STRONG light source--DO NOT use light from a windowsill!---
they will grow through the roof on you! i think they grow the most at night, so the constant source is imperative---
believe me i know! okay, also, this past year "02 i had clear plastic, 58-quart containers over my plants planted out on the day after the last frost date for NY, May 15th, with a cement block on each, and the SAME thermometer dangled in there at the plant's level through a 3/8" hole through the top.....along with this was a 40 watt light bulb on a timer to turn on at 6 pm until 6 am---kept them from freezing down to 24 F.! it was like 38-40 at the plants' level--no casualties, and lotta peace of mind! 'pal

2/14/2003 8:30:22 PM

Buffalo,Minnesota

When I was at the Clearbrook weigh in, the end of September, I talked to the winner(tucker Johnson) and he sent me seeds from that fruit. But his brother broke the record a few days later!

2/15/2003 1:36:05 PM