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Location

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Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Hello I am a relative newbie to growing Atlantic giant pumpkins. I have a question concerning when to start germinating my pumpkin seeds indoors.

I live on Vancouver Island British Columbia and our last frost is generally the 1st of April.

I have an 8' x 8' greenhouse To keep the temp a bit warmer.

I want to get as early a jump on my pumpkin as I can as our growing season is basically finished the third week in September.

Thank you in advance for any help
Joe

3/12/2016 8:14:58 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Joe, welcome to the madness. I generally germinate seeds around April 21-29 seeds and grow inside under lights till planting in my hoophouse end of April or May 1st weekend.

Check out the grower diaries of local growers Richmond Dave, Spambie, ww5flute, Pumpkinpley and a bunch others. Also watch the diaries from the Washington State growers as their growing conditions and climate are pretty much like ours.

Best of luck, please do a diary ... The more the better.

3/12/2016 8:28:40 PM

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Ok thanks so much for the info! Much appreciated!

3/12/2016 8:30:30 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

And feel free to contact the local Boyz...pretty friendly bunch.

3/12/2016 8:31:13 PM

Torrance, Ca.

But stay away from Dave and Glenn, pretty rough couple guys.

3/12/2016 10:28:56 PM

BC, Canada

Yeah, try to avoid that mainland bunch!
I'm on Salt Spring Joe, and I am about same timing as Glenn. Mid to late April for soaking seeds after having had a look at the long range weather, and making a guess for how soon they can go into the ground, sooner in the ground the better it seems to me. And any sort of covering sure helps for that first while.
Where on the island are you?
Michael

3/13/2016 5:51:25 PM

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Hello, I live in Campbell river

Last year I waited way too long and had only a small plant (about 1 square foot) by the biggining of June.
My leaves on the plant ended up almost 20" across but the pumpkin stopped growing at about 10 pounds.

3/13/2016 6:35:39 PM

Upa Creek, MO

I suppose it also depends on your weighoff, but ideally you'd like 90 days of growth on your pkn. I know nothing about the climate way up there, but here a June pollination is the way to go. Come late June and July it gets pretty humid and hot. Local growers are your best resource.

3/13/2016 8:39:57 PM