From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Omaha, Ne.

I feel like a kid in the back seat. Are we there yet? I should of planted a month ago. The low temps have been above 50. But my last frost date is may 15. Now I wish I'd made hot house. Ha

4/4/2012 11:01:18 PM

The North Coast

I am anxious too. Like a kid a week before Christmas

4/5/2012 7:57:14 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Are you waiting till May 15 to start, Darren? That is pretty late. You want something set by July 10th and that is late.

4/5/2012 8:51:59 AM

Ashby, MA

I put my final seed selection in the germination box on April 1st this year. They should be in the hot houses in another week or so. Last year my plants were in the hot houses on April 27th and I didn't pollinate until July 5th which was too late. I want to be pollinating around June 20th.

4/5/2012 9:56:06 AM

Columbus Ohio

What are you all waiting for. The plants have been in the ground for 3 weeks. They are starting to vine.

4/5/2012 10:37:37 AM

Upa Creek, MO

If you don't want to build nice ones, you can easily build a disposable 4x4 hot house for night with a few 1x2"s or 2x4"s, 4 mil plastic, and a staple gun. Mine took a half hour to build and do the job for a couple weeks. Hang a cheap flood light in there at night and you are set. On average, you need around 60 days of plant growth till you set a fruit and the big boys are set in June or early July. Email me with any questions.

4/5/2012 11:00:38 AM

Webster, NY

Pumpkinhead, are you growing in a greenhouse????

Good luck to you.

4/5/2012 12:11:58 PM

Omaha, Ne.

I was going to start the 2 or 3 week of April with a water walls. I would of used hot house but I leave early in the morning and can't take them off. Then they could end up getting to hot. Next year I'll do the hot house thing.

4/5/2012 5:10:53 PM

Connecticut

No

4/5/2012 6:03:43 PM

Columbus Ohio

Steelydave
Yes I am. With heater and soil cables. Best start yet.

4/5/2012 10:00:45 PM

Rhode Island

a lot of the growers know this but it bears repeating. an early push of plants into the garden only works if you have the protection over the plant plus heating cables and some form of additional heat on the cold days or nights.

plants set out early without these additional methods do nothing but sit there until such time as the soil and air temp warms, which can take a couple additional weeks.(also any additives you used are not effective in cold soil),
all this time is wasted and in the end? your plant does not grow early and therefore your pollination dates can be late as well.

if you cant provide these things for your young seedling? id suggest not going into the soil so early rather just transplant into a large pot and grow indoors for an additional week to ten days.(heat and sun in the day, cool room or garage at night ) --just be careful when transplanting so as not to disturb the roots any more than necessary.

i cannot stress enough the importance of a good start. all the timing involved growing these giants requires it.

4/6/2012 9:37:46 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Two inches of snow this morning here! Wait a few weeks!

Pap speaks the truth. Plants just sit there in cold soil and don't grow at all.

4/6/2012 10:05:44 AM

Baker City Oregon

Can't here. It's snowing. Busy in the greenhouse though transplanting broccoli and cauliflower seedlings.

4/6/2012 2:38:11 PM