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Buffalo, Minnesota

Last year i started all my pumpkins inside in small square plastic pots about 4 by 4, i found out that this permits allot of transplant shock when you put it in the ground so this year , just today i went to wal-mart and found a pack of peat pots, the biggest i could find was 3 inch, do they come bigger than this, is this what most of you guys use? and i couldent help it but i just had to stick a couple a seeds in three of them to see how well some of my odball seeds will germinate, planted a 112.lb seed and a squash seed plant crossed with a ag plant seed.

2/10/2001 2:19:24 AM

Western Pa.

WildBill!

I use 4" peat pots, but the stores usually run out of them early in the season. I've also seen some growers take a large plastic pot and split it in half. Then tape it back together. When it's time to transplant, gently remove tape and two pot halves! Just don't leave the plants in the pots too long! In my peat pots, I usually transplant as soon as I see roots coming out the bottom. Be very gentle with them and you should have a high success rate.
Good Luck!

kilr

2/10/2001 11:02:15 AM

Long Island,New York

WildBill...they come bigger but hard to find.I believe that after 4inch they get classified as quart-gallon-5 gallon size. There is belief out there in the giant pumpkin circles that unless you have a warm climate,the peat pots will hinder the root growth at the stump. Something about needing moisture and warmth to break down the peat. I have seem my plants root-restricted while using a peat pot. I don't like to keep the stumps real wet for fear of fungus and rootrot so my peatpots dont break down as designed.
What I've moved towards is a quart size Chinese food plastic container (like the soup containers,not the paper ones)with the bottom cut out.Slit the side from top to bottom and put the cover on.Tape the side slit with ONE strip of MASKING TAPE. You will have a qt sized somewhat clear flower pot you can monitor the root growth with. At transplant time the tape will be sufficiently decomposed for easy removal.Tilt the pot in one hand,remove the tape and bottom (cover) and place the plant in the hole while cradling it safely.Pull the slitted side apart and slip over the plant (don't slip or you may decapitate the plant.)Backfill and your done...............Glenn A.

2/10/2001 4:21:48 PM

Wa

I found 5inch peat pots last year, they were at a local greenhouse that does'nt carry them anymore.

2/10/2001 11:42:17 PM

Buffalo, Minnesota

I work at a garden center in the summertime and the largest they ever had was the two inch size, except for one occasion once when a couple of trees came in and i had the chance to take about 5 4 gallon size pots home, these pete pots were very thick, like half inch so i diddnt think they would be too good to start pumpkins in. ~wildbill

2/11/2001 2:27:42 AM

Columbus Ohio

I use 4" peat pots. I poke a billion holes in them(well really not that many but a lot) with a Phillips head screwdriver. This allows the pot to break up quickly and for the roots to find an easier way through.
I make sure the soil and pot are wet and then plant my seeds. As soon as the plant breaks the ground they go out into the greenhouses. I have never had a root bound problem. I saw this method on one of Joel Hollands videos.
John

2/11/2001 12:39:19 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

I use 4 inch peat pots last year. The roots broke out the bottom of the pot long before the seedling broke out of the soil. Once exposed to air the roots don't do too great so I'm looking for something else this year.

2/14/2001 9:18:08 AM