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Moodus, Connecticut

As an experiment I started seeds in various ways to see what would happen (I have no life).

First, I filed 12 seeds and planted them in Miracle Grow potting soil without soaking and without any heat. They came up in 6 to 7 days.

Second, I soaked 12 seeds for two hours and planted them in Miracle grow potting soil without filing and without heat, The came up in 6 to 7 days.

Third, I threw 12 seeds into dirt filled plastic cups without drainage, filing, heat and left uncovered. They came up within 6 to 7 days.

The seeds I used were from a Ace True Value and were Pumpkin and Watermelon.

My house remained at an average temp. of 67 degrees and the seeds remained inside at all times.

Although kept near a window, the seeds were never given direct sun light but did get watered about every other day and all but the cups were kept covered with clear plastic tops.

Now I find myself with just over a hundred plants that I never expected to even start, but it's all in the name of science.

4/23/2007 8:41:05 AM

[email protected]

Enjoy them! If one was starting a 723 or 1068 they would sleep better using a little heat though.

4/23/2007 9:20:55 AM

Moodus, Connecticut

Absolutely, but this was just a little fun with some cheep Ace Hardware seeds. I'm expecting 10 seeds anytime now that have a bit of a pedigree and will be sure to do it right. I think I'll stop down to the local elementary school and see if they want the extras.

Maybe I should play Johnny Appleseed and plant them around town.

4/23/2007 9:49:52 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Good Idea

4/23/2007 10:59:05 AM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

I guess I have no life either! lol
I started a few test seeds awhile back and had the following results:
Soaked/filed - up in 3 days
Soaked/no file - up in 4 days
no soak/no file - up in 5 days

All were in potting soil and all were under a 100w clear light bulb.
These were also "cheap" seeds. Heck they did better than teh top notch seeds I've started now!!!

4/23/2007 11:04:11 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Were those Ace seeds Atlantic Giant pumpkin seeds. If they were regular carving type pumpkin seeds, then you're dealing with whole different species.

4/23/2007 1:42:36 PM

Rhode Island

why do new growers alway try and reinvent the wheel?
learn to grow correctly first. establish that you can be successfull following the tried and true methods before tinkering.
pap

4/23/2007 3:49:12 PM

Minnesota

Hang in there Moodus - there are always a few overcritical policeman on here ready to write you a ticket for having some fun. Keep up the experiments and YES have fun.

4/23/2007 6:08:42 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Pap,
I can promise you that my "real seeds" were started the old tried and proven way. NO WAY would I play around with those! I was just tinkering a couple months ago because I was bored beyond belief.

Mark

4/23/2007 6:59:21 PM

Rhode Island

pumpkin police?

4/23/2007 7:22:05 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Hey Pap don't let that term get out around my office...geez I'd never live that one down! They already think I'm a little bit off my rocker when it comes to devoting so much time to a "damn fruit" as they call it! lol

4/23/2007 8:14:46 PM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Pumpkin Police....An old verbalization madman And myself invented long ago, and the man that fits the term has been growing a long time also B.H.. the official PP Enforcer do not talk to much smack he may chime in..LOL he is the official PP.....

4/24/2007 4:10:04 AM

Rhode Island

its all good. we are all defined and joined at the hip because of this crazy hobby we all love
pap

4/24/2007 5:31:33 AM

[email protected]

I encourage all manner of crazy experiments on non-competition starts & plants. I've used hormones of several type (seeds & plants) including 2,4-D to see what kind of responses they would illicit.

Potassium Nitrate & GA3 are noriously good at coaxing older stubborn seeds to germinate. They make for great fun with viable seeds too.

4/24/2007 9:32:43 AM

Moodus, Connecticut

Like I said, these were just seeds I grabbed off the shelf while shopping. My kids had a good time helping me with the experiment and got a kick out of checking the pots every day. My wife saw me filing the seeds and rolled her eyes at me, I'm sure the subject will come up at the next family get together. As of last night I have one hundred and 18 plants growing in pots, 12 of them are watermelons. I look forward to gardening with my kids this summer.

There's more to a good pumpkin patch than just growing Atlantic Giants, the neighbor's kids will have just as much fun picking big macks and sugar pumpkins. If any of the ten Atlantics give me something big to talk about then it's just icing on the cake.

4/24/2007 9:51:06 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Grow 'em BIG

4/24/2007 9:54:11 AM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

sneak those spares into corners of neighbor gardens at night. . .or go to one of the rent-a-garden places where there's lots of gardens and bestow them there.

4/25/2007 6:27:04 PM

Moodus, Connecticut

I stuck about a dozen in the ground along the road in front of my house and then snuck over to the neighbor's and did the same to them. It might look nice if some of them come up and we get pumpkins by the road side.

I'm surprised at how fast my plants are growing since they went into the ground. After two days they grew two inches, one grew almost 4.

5/1/2007 1:21:44 PM

[email protected]

Good for you moodussnare! Guerilla gardening at its finest.

It sounds like Moodus will need to be a destination for the CT Giant Squash & Pumpkin Growers annual Summer Patch Tour.

http://www.ctpumpkin.org/

What a sight this could be! LOL

5/2/2007 12:01:54 AM