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bloomington IN.

I grow many plants but have never tried pumpkins.I have obtained a few atlantic giants from a friend and am excited to see what happens. My question is this: I have a 400 watt and a 250 watt hydro system. I am quite aware that many plants flower due to the length of night. Are pumpkins the same way? If so, then I could keep them in vegetative state for as long as needed thus getting a great start, then transplanting outside. I live on fertile farm land with plenty of manure and compost. I live in southern Indiana. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Good luck to all!

4/3/2002 9:20:51 AM

Cooks Creek, Manitoba, Canada

You want to get your pumpkin into the ground as soon as possible after germinating (1-2 leaf stage). Since the average time span from germination to transplant is around 3-10 days, the type of lighting and the daily duration really doesn't come into play - in general the more light the better.
There has been some discussion about light duration during the growing season and its effect on size. Some people think this is one of the reasons the big ones come from the northern US and southern Canada - I'm not to sure about this as I think it has more to do with heat stress in the southern US.

4/3/2002 9:46:29 AM

bloomington IN.

thank you bez, that makes perfect sense to me. I was just curious. Also I agree that heat stress is probably the reason they dont do as well in the south as they do in the noth.

4/6/2002 8:35:48 PM

North Ga

Some of us (Deep South Boys) think we can best a few growers above the Mason Dixon Line this year. Good luck to everybody!

4/6/2002 8:56:39 PM

Amherst, WI

Good luck to you too, Pappy! It sure will be interesting to see how everyone does this season. May everyone grow a new personal best.

4/7/2002 11:56:34 AM

ny

The kind of light you give a plant matters alot you should use a light high in blue specture which promotes foiler growth or a HID light.

4/9/2002 7:40:39 PM

bloomington IN.

Yes, I understand that and i knew that but what i was wondering was this: Is is possible to keep pumpkins in a vegetative state forever so to speak? See, continuous amounts of sunlight would make the pumpkin think that it is the height of summer, like before it flowers. As mid july comes, then the days get shorter and the nights get longer. When this happens, there are many plants that are genetically triggered to flower. Annuals live a life cycle and when the nights get longer, they believe that its time to reproduce and flower. So again, does anyone know if pumpkins can be altered in this way or not?
Some plants can and some cannot.--- can pumpkins?

4/11/2002 10:47:01 PM

Deer Park WA

Pumpkins are a perenial they only die anually because of frost. I believe that they will flower and try to reproduce regaurdless of the amount of light they recieve, as long as it is enough to sustain the plant and all other supporting factors are in place. A great example is the 746 Sherber Clone experiment conducted by Marc "Madman" Sawtelle last season. He had very small plants throwing male and female flowers in the middle of winter under grow lights in his basement.

4/11/2002 11:31:06 PM

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

I read somewhere that with Tomatoes the numbers of flowers and also quality of fruit produced on the bottom 2 trusses is influenced by the growing conditions very early on,because they are formed a little while before you can actually recognise them.If you apply this to Pumpkins the female flowers must be formed well before mid July.
Does anyone know exactly when they are formed?

4/12/2002 5:22:20 AM

bloomington IN.

thank you gads. That is what I was curious about. I am just not very well versed in pumpkin cultivation but am learning quickly. I do suppose I will get them started under 400 watt for 2 weeks or so then move them into compost/manure/well drained fertile land.

Axc:I grow about 60 to 80 tomato plants a year, and I did not know that. I will conduct experiment and compare this season. thanks!

4/12/2002 10:30:44 PM

Indiana

AXC,
Lots of growers pollinate fruit in the last 2 weeks of June. This is a little early for the target date, but I have l looked deep into growth tips, and have noticed that if you look real hard, you can FIND the tiny female flower up to 2 weeks ahead of time. Usually visible fairly easily at about 7 days. It also depends on vine growth, some growers see 2 feet of vine growth a day, and some see only 6-8 inches or even less. I personally see about 20 inches a day in late June, and early July.
Tom Beachy

4/13/2002 12:49:41 AM

Indiana

Forgot to mention that generally don't pollinate before July 1 if you are in the midwest. The fruit will mature earlier than wanted, and may develop age coloration. Some of the growers from the other regions ought to express kind of a general rule for their area. I know out in Washington, Joel Holland Pollinates the last week of June. Age coloration is greening of teh skin due to age. Which is not a good thing unless you want a squampkin for some reason.
Tom Beachy

4/13/2002 12:54:01 AM

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

bones,
Like you I have a 400 watt light,its great for germinating seeds,Seedlings sent out side roots that grew outwards in a fairly straight line very fast you have no time at all to plant them out 3 days maybe.They aren't pot bound in the sense that the pot is completely full of roots theres just a few long roots that quickly go round in a circle.I didn't get this until I tried it.Also because the pot is not full of roots theres nothing to hold the soil together when you transplant thats why experienced growers use an upside down pot or a peat pot.I didn't get that either.

TomMan,Thanks Mark.

4/14/2002 5:52:53 AM

Kennett Square, PA

I've never understood a light source prior to germination unless it was to provide some modified heat. While heating pads have worked for me, they do invert where the nice 85 degree temps. should be coming from. I am very concerned that pumpkins have an uncanny nack at reaching for a light source and can stretch their initial seed coat leaves to lengths of 6-10". When they get that long it's too late to plant them to have any future.

Gary Liska
Kennett Square, PA

5/18/2002 8:42:06 PM