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Connecticut, USA

I’m curious,

How many people start their seeds indoors and then transplant outdoors versus how may people plant directly outside.

I am also interested in different germination techniques as well…

Thanks - John

12/13/1999 1:11:03 PM

Columbus Ohio

I have allway started My seed indoors. I start them in my gas oven. With the door shut the pilot light keeps it at about 85 degrees. I have about a 95% germination rate.

12/13/1999 11:42:21 PM

Sequim, WA

I start mine indoors for two reasons. The soil in April and May is too cool to germinate seeds here in western Washington, and I
have no power avialable at my patch to use soil heating cables. If I had that option I would pobably use it as having your soil at the proper temperature would probably help them get off to a better start early in the season. My method for germinating the seeds it to lightly sand the edges and then soak them in warm water for a couple of hours. I then use 4" round peat pots and soak them and then add a sterile seed starting mix and get that damp. I place the seeds pointed end down in the mix and cover them with ½" of starting mix and place them in an aluminum
pan in my oven with only the light bulb on in the oven. The inside temp of the oven is about 86°. I then cover the knobs of the oven with postit notes so my wife won't turn it on and bake the seeds. Germination usually occurs within about 72 to 96 hours this way. My oven is electric. I usually try to keep about ½" of water in the bottom of the pan and check it a couple times a day to keep the pots and mix from drying out. The only one I had fail to germinate with this method was a bad seed with nothing inside of it. I suspected it because it was a very large seed
but extremely light. I planted it anyway hoping I would get lucky with it. I transplant out to my cloches as soon as the first true leaf develops. I have had no problems with the plants being root bound in the peat pots. The roots penetrate the soft thin walls of the pot easily, sometimes even before the cotyledon leaves are out of the soil.

12/14/1999 3:18:56 PM

Grand Rapids, MI

I always start them inside because Michigan temperatures are unpredictable in the spring. I use 12 inch pots and lay a florescent light right on top of the pots(grow lights are not needed). My germination has been about 90%. After the plants come up I put 6 inch spacers on top of the pots and put the lights on the spacers and let them grow for a week or more. That way the plants are not only nice and green, but they are very compact.

1/20/2000 9:28:40 PM

Connecticut, USA

Teach,

Do you have any problems taking the plants out of the pots?

1/20/2000 9:46:20 PM

McMinnville,OR, 97128

I started mine this year indoors. But one time I planted it outside and it got big.

3/20/2000 2:58:10 PM

Los Alamos NM

I started mine in some large plastic tree pots and it seemed to work well. The only problem taking the pumpkins out of the pots was because they were quite heavy. If you do this don't water them it will be heavy and hard to get out. I used about a 14" pot and the roots had not grown around nearthe edges much. Next year I am going to try smaller pots.

6/17/2000 11:39:59 PM

Port Trevorton, Pennsylvania

This year we tried a germination method that worked quite well. First, wrap the seeds in a damp paper towel and place in a cooler with a gallon jug of hot water overnight. Meanwhile, cut a plastic gallon ice cream container in half length-wise (one for each seed), and duct tape it back together. The next day plant the seed in the above mentioned ice cream container. Loosely cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in the cooler, adding fresh hot water at least twice a day. Remove the plastic wrap as soon as the plant breaks ground. Remove the plant from the cooler when it's an inch or two high. It only took a few days for our plants to sprout. Keep a close eye because once they did they were at the plastic wrap in only a few hours. When it's time to transplant, just untape the containers. No root damage, etc.

6/20/2000 7:39:45 AM