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

Hi all, I'm getting ready to put my plants out in the patch thursday and wondering how much full sun to give the little guys starting out. I have a shade cloth if need be but just not sure how much sun to start them out with??

5/11/2010 12:37:51 AM

Nova Scotia

I like 1/2hr incurments. 1/2hr day one then shade 1hr day 2 then shade ect

5/11/2010 10:01:38 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

I start hardening them off as soon as they're up. Just like T sez..They are getting sun before they have first true leaves. get's em green, keeps em stout not leggy, and by the time to go out they can take good sun..keep em out of midday sun for a day or two but other then that they're ready to go....But then again, That's probably not what the heavy hitters do. LOL...but they never burn they still have they're couple of days of acclimation and get going. GrowEmBig! Chuck

5/11/2010 4:55:25 PM

Joliet, IL

depends on the brightness and clarity of the sunlight and what temp and wind factor that day. a windy clear sunny day is hardest on transplants. i start 2 days prior to transplant with about 2 hours in morning say 8-10 then a few hours in evening about 4:30 to sunset. next day 2 hours a.m., 1 hour midday sun then about 3:30 to sunset. then i transplant the next day after full sun about 3:30 pm if clear and sunny, and earlier about 1pm if cloudy and less windy. the very first whole day in the sun i would probably cover them with a mini shade cloth if a clear windier day. i had 2 days straight cloudy days of acclimation tis year then a hot clear windy day the next day after transplanting. i through on the shade cloth about noon and weened them off it the following 2 days. the shade cloth worked nice and glad that i used it.

5/11/2010 5:43:36 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

OB, lots of great info here, slowly acclimate yer young'ns to the direct sun!!! A lil more and more each day!!! And don't forget a lil wind protection, even after they are into full sun!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...where in Michigan is Whittaker...I lived in Grand Rapids for years!!!

5/12/2010 12:06:25 AM

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

Thanks a lot guys for the great info!!!All advice will be well adhered to!! Also peace, wayne...My town Whittaker is a flyspeck town next door to milan and just north 15 minutes of Dundee where the harnica farms weigh offs are every fall. We went last year and that was where I was bitten by the pumpkin bug.if I have good enough luck ill be haulin my own down there this year and its only 15 mins away which is great! Thanks again to all you guys and gals who have been so helpful!!

5/12/2010 5:47:18 AM

Pataskala,OH

If they are under a very bright florescent light you can put them right outside but if they are by a window they need acclimated.

5/12/2010 7:44:40 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

OB, Milan...near Ypsi? Grow em BIG!!! Lot's of great growers in the Great White North!!! LOL Peace, Wayne

5/12/2010 11:26:45 PM

Tinykinville

depends when you acclamate them a new seedling can take full sun, a babied seedling needs a bit of acclamation but honestly within two three days any young plant can take full sun all day.

5/13/2010 4:10:51 AM

[email protected]

We get seedlings out into the sun the minute they break soil.

5/13/2010 9:15:15 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Steve, nice to read yer latest post...I did just that w/ my 4 sprouts this year...as soon as they came out of the germination chamber, they went out into the sun...not full sun all day long, but a lot of sun from the get go. Best set of seedlings I have ever had!!!! Biggest cot leaves I have ever seen (3 of 4)!!! I am convinced, if weather permits, to put em outside as soon as they show themselves!!! Peace, Wayne

5/13/2010 10:58:09 PM