From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Deer Park, WI

It has been one week and a day since starting these seeds. Check out the crappy picture in my diary to see their progress.

As stated in the diary, the biggest seedling is showing its first true leaf...for those that buy into the "vines opposite of 1st leaf" theory, one could make a decision as to whcih way to orient the plant.

Onto the roots...the system has expanded exponentially, both laterally and longitudially. The tap root hit the bottom and realized that, then turned back up into the pot. Not GOOD! Rather than coiling around the bottom, it seems to be growing upward, to stay off the bottom of the pot. By this point, there is no doubt the plant should be in the ground. This plant in a 4" peat pot would have been root bound by now. An attempt to transplant this seedling would result in siginifcant damage to the root system.

This brings up the issue of transplantation timing vs. vine direction. A common theme is that the vine will go opposite the first true leaf. Whether or not this is solid, im not sure. However, in my experience this point is a non-issue.

When a pumpkin plant hits the 6-7 leaf stage, its more like a bush than a vine. At this point in the lifecycle, plants are very easy to influence. Any plant can be trained to "flop" any way you chose. However, it may seem that if it flops a certain direction, the leaves will be upside down. This is a temporary problem of little significance. Leaves grow towards the sun, so the plant will right itself if a couple leaves are headed in the wrong direction, and it only takes a day! Try it out sometime...plants compensate for movement like that.

With that said, first leave direction becomes a non-issue when determining transplanting time.

2/9/2004 11:50:32 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

In 2003 our transplants went in the opposite direction of the first true leaf 2 for 3. Bart told me his 707 Toftness os prone to "going the other way". I waited until it was long enough & flipped it as you advise. The upside down leaves righted themselves within 24 hours.

In hind sight, you are correct. All the plants were root bound & likely suffered growth limiting consequences. 2004 will be different. Between Joe & Glenn I'm convinced. The starts go out into warmed soil as soon as I see the cots this year.

Steve

2/9/2004 12:30:59 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Joe I believe the root went the other way when it hit the because your container is clear.

2/10/2004 2:43:38 AM

Knopp, Germany

I agree with not having to wait for the first true leaf as well. My method is to transplant with one of the cots (it doesn't matter which one) going in the direction you want to grow. When the first true leaf appears, it will be 90 degrees off. After the plant shows which way it naturally wants to vine you only have to guide the plant to grow in the intended direction, 90 degrees instead of possibly 180. This results in not having to "flop" the plant or make a huge arcing turn to get it to grow in the intended direction. I tried this method last year and was very successful with it.

2/10/2004 3:49:36 AM

Deer Park, WI

Shannon- regardless of container color, the bottom is going to be dark, eh? and if it was a light response that influenced root direction, why did the taproot grow down against the side of the container? Just somethin to think about.

Owen- Thats a great suggestion- thanks for your input!

2/10/2004 9:24:03 AM