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Cleveland, Ohio

Package instructions recommend 4-6 weeks before the last frost but that seems too early, (the last frost in Cleveland is April 29th so that's between March 18th and April 1st), I'm a new grower so what would you guys recommend as a decent pumpkin growing timeline. Also, what would you guys recommend adding to some basic miracle grow potting mix to help out the pumpkin?

2/19/2021 11:42:58 PM

Grittyville, WA

Yeah that's wrong. A one gallon pot should contain an Atlantic Giant for 2 1/2 weeks or so. You could start that early but you'd either end up with a potbound/rootbound plant or you'd need plastic covers and soil heating. Probably start a few in April.
If you dont want to put all your eggs in one basket then a helpful strategy is to stagger the starting dates by a week or so & then you can lose a couple plants to frost or wind or vermin, and still have a backup plant ready to go.

2/20/2021 1:15:15 AM

Grittyville, WA

You can amend the soil many growers use myco, some use professional grow mixes. I dont know if miracle grow is the best but it wont hurt. If you already have good soil then it wont make any difference... Just my opinion!

2/20/2021 1:27:17 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

go look in new growers and general discussion. There are thousand of posts from years ago. do a search or just keep reading all the posts that have been here for years.

2/20/2021 2:34:08 AM

Syracuse, NY

Hello, hadsell - Are you trying to grow GIANT pumpkins of 500 pounds or more? Or field pumpkins of, say 24-50 pounds, per also, what kind of packaged seeds are they? I'd like for you to have seeds of both, of crosses between plants that are reputable in both categories. Not only trying to get my seeds tried out, lol, but, if you need or want practice seeds AND ones to grow, I'm your guy @ the moment! You don't want seedlings to be in any pot of let's say
4 inches in diameter for more than 10-14 days because the longer that is so, the longer it takes to get over transplant shock once in the patch. Literally, it takes up to 2 weeks for mine to even show signs of life after leaving the peat pot every year, lol. Once the roots are showing through? - That's when they need to have been growing into the native soil of the patch. It is RARE that most can plant them out in that timeframe - when they get out there, though, that's good enough.

I think the recommendations on the packets account for a week or more at 70F* to germinate and waiting for the frost to pass, etc., for the general public, but, you are now in charge of your own Pumpkin Destiny!!!

I can help you and would like to - I've offered to others before
but have rarely had bouncebacks?

They have thought they HAD to buy something.

That IS the general idea anymore, but you don't charge someone you
'pull over for to help', unless they offer it to you, right?

Be sure and look at this link:

http://www.worldclassgardening.com/grower/eric_gerry

and get back to me at

pumpkinpal@msn.com

with which ones you wanna try, including my #37 (F)ield (P)umpkin seeds.

I highly recommend the 188, 940.6, 142.6
Some of them and ALL of them read carefully, as the picture is OF...well, you'll see!


OF COURSE, any and all info you obtain from this site will pertain to your seeds you already have, and please don't let me overwhelm you (too late?, lol), but, if yer here, yer 'family'. It's a good t

2/20/2021 5:21:01 AM

Syracuse, NY

hing, lol. eric gerry

2/20/2021 5:23:13 AM

Western NY

http://ovgpg.com/

2/20/2021 6:50:21 AM

Diamond, Ohio

Visit Ovgpg.com, there you can find an email for Nick Harp to get info on the beginners seminar which is coming up soon.

2/20/2021 9:28:35 AM

Muddy Waters

Thats a great question To answer your question exactly. Its different each year the exact date that some of us start the seeds.I live in Michigan.I wait till April 1st & look at the 30 day forecast. Will it be a warm spring? or a Cold spring? I have started seeds April 10th & I have started seeds April 24th. Each year is a judgement call.Plus What do you have to keep them protected from frost & cold nights? What size is your cold frame? These are all factors on when to start your seeds. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE6UAfYmarz41BGRV9jKQacizokHxp5z4

2/28/2021 8:07:39 AM