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Germany

Hi all, I was just wondering what the latest seed starting dates had been among the group of northern hemisphere growers (talking about plants which actually produced a decent pumpkin upon a very late seed start). Just out of curiosity I have started some seeds this week.

6/23/2013 5:34:40 PM

Bethlehem CT

It all depends on how hot the summer is, I gave a friend some seeds last year that he planted in the beginning of July. He wound up with some 200 pounders by the beginning of October. I was shocked that he was able to do that. But last year was abnormally warm here. The growing degree days just added right up and really pushed for optimal growth. Warm days and nights. Although you start getting to high above 90 in the day and that starts to affect the plant negatively if you can't keep it cool.

6/24/2013 7:14:48 AM

Upa Creek, MO

I didn't pollinate till August last year. It was over 400 when it blew up.

6/24/2013 7:43:49 AM

Federal Way, WA

On Brigittie's '06 diary, I saw she planted seeds on June 10th (since she was living away from home) that didn't come up until June 16th and she ended up with a 433.5lb pumpkin! She harvested October 11th, too, so if you can miraculously avoid frost and stay warm, you'd have another 20 days until Halloween. When I read that, I didn't feel half so bad for starting three weeks late, ha.

6/24/2013 12:54:02 PM

Germany

Dear all,
thank you for your replies, looks like the plants might at least grow something pumpkin-like. Now the only thing I can do is to keep my fingers crossed the September will bring warm and sunny weather. Currently the little seedlings are developing their 3rd true leaf, and I hope that they will start to grow a main vine within the next two weeks, so that there will be something for pollination by the end of July or beginning of August...on a small plant, but it should be much larger by mid August when the pumpkin starts to grow. 60 days for fruit growth don´t sound too bad, but starting with a small plant beginning of August and having pumpkin growth peak more than a month further away from the longest days should make things less advantageous for the little fruit. We will see. Currently I´m just hoping that the undisturbed root system of the little plants, which was allowed to grow in warm soil from the very beginning, and the productivity of the overall young leaves of the ultimately young plant can do some compensation for disadvantages of the later season. September weather will make the final decision.

7/1/2013 9:19:45 AM