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Xenia,ohio

I'm new at all this, but i caught the growing big pumpkin bug last year. So needless to say my questions may sound dumb to all the experts. I want to grow a biggun ....so i need help! first question is my garden is apr.900 sq ft my ph level is at 6, how much lime do I need to apply to raise it to ideal levels. Second question is , when is the best time to start my seeds indoors.

3/16/2010 7:25:17 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Welcome pumpkinstein to the madness. It's a bit late to get started, but not out of the question. A good season begins the fall before with a good soil test, amendments, a spring soil test, and more amendments but, since you're a beginner, we'll keep it simple and help you to at least get one to a weighoff.

Ideal pH is around 6.9, so add 25 pounds of calcium lime(available at your local farm supply store) and apply a balanced fertilizer such as 15-15-15. About 25 pounds of that will do too(people are really going to rake me over the coals here, but keeping it simple for you is the idea).

Start your seeds indoors at around 85 degrees and very scant moisture in seed starting medium around May 1st and plan to transplant outdoors around May 15th.

When the plants become established, apply a foliar insecticide and fungicide every 7-10 days. These plants need an equivalent of 1" of rainfall weekly.

That's about as simple as I can make it for someone just now getting started. My biggest recommendation is to join a grower's group such as the Southern Ohio Giant Pumpkin Growers in Pickaway and Ross counties. I believe we would be the closest group for you.

Too much information now would simply overwhelm you and there is a lot to learn about growing these things. We have already had our spring seminar, but you are welcome to sit in on the Circleville grower's meeting on March 28th. E-mail Tony Vanderpool at [email protected] if you are interested in joining the SOGPG or me, Joe Gerchy, at [email protected] if you are interested in the Circleville meeting.

3/16/2010 8:06:16 PM

3 acre corner in Whittaker,Mi USA ([email protected])

I started mine indoors last year about may 3 with the temps maintained around 82 to 86 degrees with a grow light and germination/heat pad (I bought at lowes for 30 bucks) underneath them and they all came up great! Lightly filing the seeds before germinating them really helped them take off quicker. Had them in the ground right before the end of may. Hope this helps!!

3/18/2010 2:50:15 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I start my seeds indoors on April 22, plant out in patch around May 3. I use hoop houses to protect the seedlings. Without hoops you need to push out at least 2 weeks from there depending on the frost dates in your area of Ohio.

3/18/2010 12:51:27 PM

Minerva,ohio

Hi and welcome! I can highly suggest a crash course in pumpkin 101 by checking your local library to see if they have a copy of Don Langvins book
How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins Book 2 it was a true help for me along with BP.com of course. You are definitly in the right place lots of very friendly and helpful people here. Hope to see you at a weigh off the fall :D

3/18/2010 3:30:46 PM