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Rhode Island

from time to time i will post some suggestions for our newer growers . i hope it is of help.

new growers should practice germinating seeds a couple times before the real deal is needed.

remember a constant heat source around the seed is needed to produce a healthy sprout.

first sand gently around the seed and tip (do not sand through the shell)

second place sanded seed in seed starter medium (moist not saturated or the seed will rot)or wet paper wrapped in a piece of plastic and place in a heated container where the heat needs to be between 80 to 90-95 degrees.
please no window sills or pots sitting on top of a heated surface that is not inside a covered box. it may work sometimes but its not worth the risk on a valuable seed

if you start in wet paper wrapped in plastic you will need to remove the wet paper after around three days and re-plant into a potting medium.personally either works fine however the wet paper method works well on older seeds.

once our seedlings have germinated and the seed is off we place the seedlings under a small grow light that we purchased from toms extreme pumpkins site. it works great and is small enough to not waste electricity but large enough for several potted plants.

we always put some root shiels into the potting mix along with a tad of ke;p meal and a tad of mico.this gets the plants off to a good start.
ps-----be sure to use organic seed starter not the pre-fertalized crap that is sold. that stuff is loaded with salts that will just take away from the mico and root shield products advantages................ pap

1/4/2010 8:29:45 AM

norway , maine

your suggestions and tips are a huge help...thanks pap

1/4/2010 12:46:32 PM

Cleveland Texas

Thanks Pap for the tips and info. I'm going to try to germinate a few seeds soon.

1/4/2010 2:31:02 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Pap's tips are the best of the best. No other grower has been to the school of hard knocks, survived, then gives so much of himself back. Whether to new growers or his Coats for Kids (OAF) program. Richard Wallace is a giant among men. I am proud to call Pap's my friend.

I was there when Ronny weighed his world record 1502 grown on his very own 1068. The look in Dick's eyes was sooo special...

Thank God we have men like Richard "Pap's" Wallace.

1/4/2010 9:50:15 PM

Colorado Springs.Co

Agreed

1/5/2010 12:11:20 AM

Rhode Island

thanks for the kind words steve. if guys like you and i dont help the newere growers who else will?

i personally believe that newer growers should be concerned with just growing a good sized pumpkin thats healthy and makes the season.worry about the site and world records at a point down the road when you know you can do it rather than wishing you could do it.

all the additional things the so called heavy hitters of our hobby do is great once you have mastered the basics for success.thats where people like us come in. help um get off to a good start. the rest is up to them.

new/newer growers should be concerned with the basics for a successfull season. all the rest can come in future years.

1/5/2010 9:11:49 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

When I first joined BP I replied to a post about Sevin. A Heavy Hitter (unknown to me then) had made an inaccurate statement and I respectfully corrected him. You coulda heard a in drop on these boards LOL. Word eventually got out that I taught the commercial 3A pesticide course here in CT and folks stopped questioning me.

A former grower who also started Seed-Outlet used to run a conservative weblog. I supplied their chemicals the first few years. anyway, Brent was also an educator.

He taught me this.

Those who can, DO. Those who can't, TEACH.

there is some truth to that.

Now that I'm disabled and he's had major heart surgery, we've both had to re-examine where we can best apply our talents for the greatest good. LOL

1/5/2010 11:45:09 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

And we agree that noobs should just focus on the basics. SEED/SOIL/SUN. This is a solar crop.

1/5/2010 1:28:23 PM

Antigonish,Nova Scotia,Canada

...and those who can't teach...teach teachers!!!!....hahahaha
Actually those who CAN , teach, those who can't do other things far less inportant!!!!

Bill

1/5/2010 7:09:55 PM

Deer Park WA

Pap, even us "old timers" never get tired of your refreshing spirit & advice! I have killed/stunted more hot seeds in the germination process than I care to mention! Biggest tip I learned is to not water log the little stinkers while germinating.

Thanks again you are truely The Man!

Gadberry's

1/6/2010 1:14:24 AM

Olympia, WA

Root-Stalker, If you would sometime please contact me at jandju@q.com. I am also located in Olympia and would like discuss some thoughts related to this post and others.

1/24/2010 12:45:17 AM