[fluffstermum]

Where can I buy enough plant pots, around 8cm I think I'll need, to sow 150ish giant pumpkin seeds at the same time?

I don't mind whether they're individual pots/round/square/trays of cells.

A quick search tells me I can get 48 round 8cm fibre pots for about £7 on ebay. Where can I look to get them cheaper than that?

Or would plastic drinks cups do the job? (100 for £3.50 - so cheap and cheerful!)

All ideas much appreciated 

[Yorkie]

I would avoid fibre pots as there is the risk that they will dry out and damage roots.

If there are 150 of them, square ones will be easier to store / pack together.

Yes, you can use plastic drinks cups although you will need to make sure you put enough drainage holes in them (which might make the plastic split) - and ensure they are big enough.

Will you be potting them on or selling them small?

Can't help with any other particular suppliers though, sorry.

[sunshineband]

Have a look on ebay.

Make sure you check P&P charges too, but there are some very reasonable suppliers.

[seedman]

Try this one hope it works.
 200 7cm £5-00 plus £3.50 p/o http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200-X-7CM-SQUARE-BLACK-PLASTIC-PLANT-POTS-7CM-DEEP-/170589703787?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Garden_Plants_Pots_Window_Boxes_CV&hash=item27b7f04e6b

[seedman]

Yes as Yorkie said they do dry out quite quick.

[fluffstermum]

Ooh thanks guys! Those square ones would do the job nicely Seedman.

Thanks for steering me away from the fibre pots Yorkie. Drying out didn't even cross my mind.

The plan (if it works) is to hand them all out to my fellow allotmentors once the little seedlings have popped through.
Last year the society struggled to get hold of enough Atlantic Giant seeds for us all to have a competition (some used Mammoth seeds but not many joined in).
Well I bought some Atlantic Giant for myself and grew them quite successfully, the biggest of which I stored the seeds from (well over 200 which I dried out in the spare room and have stashed in envelopes).
I'm hoping to grow enough mini plants to hand out 2 to each plot holder (and some spares) to have a decent pumpkin growing competition this year. I figured more people will join in if they just have to put it in the ground and water it, rather than faff with the seed from scratch. No chance of the seed not germinating that way too, so a fairer competition.

I'm also crossing my fingers that they are indeed Atlantic Giant and not some random marrow/pumpkin/squashkin concoction, or it'll be a very interesting pumpkin competition!  :blink:

[sunshineband]

That's a great idea fluffstermum 

[fluffstermum]

That's a great idea fluffstermum 

Thank You 

Pumpkins are my favourite veggie to grow, so I would be ecstatic if the whole allotment was covered in them. I'm such a big kid! 

[sunshineband]

That's a great idea fluffstermum 

Thank You 

Pumpkins are my favourite veggie to grow, so I would be ecstatic if the whole allotment was covered in them. I'm such a big kid! 

I wish someone could take an aerial photo towards the end of the season -- all those pinky monsters sprawled everywhere... where is Googel Earth when you want them? 

[seedman]

Hope they all germinate for you, very good and kind of you 

[fluffstermum]

Hope they all germinate for you, very good and kind of you 

Oh I hope so. We have been lucky so far - I think all of our pumpkins germinated last year. A few keeled over once they were out in their patch, but at least they had a good start! 
I thought if I sow enough for 2 per plot (and then some) then there's a good chance of us getting at least one each if things don't go as well as I hope.

I wish someone could take an aerial photo towards the end of the season -- all those pinky monsters sprawled everywhere... where is Googel Earth when you want them? 

I would LOVE a copy of that photo 

[DD.]

Just a word of caution, curcubits are notoriously promiscuous and can easily cross with each other, as I have found out in the past!

[fluffstermum]

Just a word of caution, curcubits are notoriously promiscuous and can easily cross with eah other, as I have found out in the past!

*Evil chuckle*

I can just imagine the whole allotment baffled at the random stripy butternut-shaped 'pumpkins' emerging from their 'atlantic giant' plants 

Well on our plot we did grow just pumpkins (3 different varieties though) and butternut squash (though they were at the far end, away from the pumpkins). So fingers firmly crossed.

[DD.]

Apologies for re-posting this, yet again, but I have a new audience!

This should have been a trailing marrow:

[fluffstermum]

Brilliant