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

With all the warmer weather we have all been having I'm interested on what are most growers thoughts on the pros and cons of an early start considering the growth curve of the plant and the fruit itself...just wondering if it is beneficial or not or what..just a random thought I was pondering...thanks for any and all input from you guys and gals.
Also...I planned on starting mine Tuesday. Thanks again!!! Erik

4/23/2012 3:25:35 AM

Germany

Hi Erik, IMHO early is pretty good as long as it serves the needs of the little plant (soil temp should be fine for a good start). Also, in case of a sudden cold period you should be prepared to protect the little plants in the patch (hoop house or something like that). Having seeds started early and then deciding to leave the seedlings in the pots for additional 2 weeks (because of unexpectedly cool weather) would clearly be a con, as soon as they really grow they should be allowed to spread their roots all over the patch, not around the pot.
Having them started early will give you the advantage of either an early pollination and 120+ days of pumpkin growth until the weigh-off or a bigger plant behind the pumpkin at a "regular pollination" (end of June...beginning of July). On AGGC you can read various examples where heavy fruit have been harvested for weigh-off which could have been even heavier, because they still grew at decent rate. Hence, having a long period available for fruit growth cannot be too bad. Of course, you need to keep the plant strong and healthy for a longer period, but all the effort should turn out worthwhile.

4/23/2012 4:16:57 AM

Massachusetts

very true pumpking, a buddy of mine started way to early last year and the pumpkin sat in the patch for a month before the weigh off, loosing weight every day....scott

4/23/2012 7:03:52 AM

Muddy Waters

This Tuesday is really not that early, if early at all.Ken Sweet starts the 27th,I always started the end of April as many have.I think there is a magic time to start,but without knowing what the weather will do its almost impossible to predict.I hope we have a warm May.I got a feeling it will be a cold summer in the North.OVGPG has bumped there weigh-off to the 13th.One more reason not to start early.

4/23/2012 7:09:17 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Erik, I already have mine in the soil out back so I try not to think of the negatives. But, the weighoff I'd like to attend is at the end of Sept and that is a long time from now to keep the plants healthy.

4/23/2012 8:43:03 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

We currently have 6" of snow on the ground and more is coming down. Starting too early is always a big mistake.
Don't be a monkey see, monkey do.

4/23/2012 9:05:32 AM

Rhode Island

just because you set your plants out a bit earlier than normal for your area does not mean an early finish.
to many things come into play like your eventual pollination date.( plucking off a couple early pumpkins will allow you to still pollinate on your average date but will be doing so on a larger plant)i consider this a plus.
it all depends on the grower and his/her target date for weighing.
to me a good rule of thumb is to targetat a fully mature,completed pumpkin at 100 days from pollination.there are of course exceptions.many will complete their growth cycle around 90 days and in a few cases a pumpkin may crawl into 110 days of growth.( rare but it can happen depending on no early frost,etc )
also friends remember this --- a healthy fully developed, completed pumpkin will hold for a couple weeks in you patch so long as you keep a piece of main vine hooked up and the rodents away.
theres no guarentees with anything we do however nothing would amaze me with these freaks of nature.

4/23/2012 9:20:33 AM

West Manchester, OH

the weather has been crazy in ohio this year. im waiting until the beginning of may to plant or even think about it

4/23/2012 9:24:04 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

I've started a little earlier this year, a matter-of-fact it's the earliest i recall in my 25 years of growing A.G.'s i wanted an earlier start as the fair is early this year, end of September, i want to target a mid to late June pollination, to insure at least 100 growing days, I'm usually away on vacation in early July which requires me to make trips back from vacation or to rely on someone else to watch my pollination's, my plants in the past have survived late spring snowfalls on several occasions as they are well protected in the spring as they should be, soil temps are fine due to soil cables, and thermostatic heaters take care of cold night and cold days, one can never count on spring weather to be stable.

4/23/2012 10:47:49 AM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

I've given much thought as to when I plant in the ground. I purposely used much larger containers than in previous years so that I can have a large and healthy root when the plant hits my hoop house. Once planted the trick will be to pollinate a pumpkin at the right date. I have lots of room in my patch so 3rd female flower won't be a deal breaker. I suspect that for many like myself there is an impatience or sense of urgency to get it in the patch. There calling for freezing temperatures over the next two weeks so in my opinion May 1 may be premature even in a hoop house.

4/25/2012 8:05:33 AM