Since I save seeds from most of my vegetables in a short-season climate, I try to get them started as early as possible. For cucurbits, as already mentioned, you can't keep them indoors long, unless you have a light source as intense as sunlight. I start them maybe 2-3 weeks before the target date for direct seeding (depending upon species), and put them outside in full sun as soon as they germinate. If the weather cooperates, they get transplanted as soon as they have their first true leaf. The main advantage is better & faster germination than I might get outside, with fewer losses due to slugs & bugs. This also allows me to get the plants started on time if the soil is late to dry out in Spring (which has been a common problem in recent years). I've had great luck using peat strips for squash, cucumbers, bitter melon, and various other gourds. Since the entire pot is planted, there is no root disturbance. But if the weather warms up early enough, I will sometimes direct seed. In warmer climates than mine, direct seeding should be the preferred method. The decision of whether or not to start something as transplants may depend upon species - and even variety. I will direct seed acorn squash (which has a short DTM) but usually start the long-DTM winter squashes as transplants. Gourds that are eaten immature (cucumbers, summer squash) should usually be direct seeded unless you intend to save seed. True gourds (not the warted ornamentals, which are related to zucchini) require warmer soil temps & often have long germination times, so they can benefit from being started indoors. There is one other advantage to starting squash & cukes as transplants, though. I've gardened in locations where some years, cucumber beetles were so bad that they would destroy seedlings as soon as they emerged. I would grow plants as seedlings, transplant them into the garden, and immediately cover them with floating row cover. The row cover needed to be removed when flowering began, to allow pollination... but it gave the plants a chance to get established. I've never tried floating row cover over seeds, because I assumed it would cool the soil & delay germination... but for those with serious bug issues, it might be worth trying.

Yes, you can try to keep them inside over the winter without pruning but unless they get a lot of good light, they will struggle. The pruning allows the plant to require less light, water and nutrients. Plus, it makes it less of a target for pests such as aphids and other bugs that like to follow them indoors. Another reason for pruning is that it takes up much less room....besides, once the plant adjusts to the change in climate from outside to inside and the pruning, it will start putting out green all over the place. Most of the time, my plants have actually lost all their leaves very soon after pruning and bringing them in. But a week later, there were green shoots all over and a month later, I was again pruning to keep it in check. Bruce

I experimented with one last night, using pinto beans and craft glue. This didn't work well....at least for an impatient person like me! And I also made the mistake of pushing the bean into the styrofoam. So I started again using a hot glue gun. This is where I realized pushing the bean in was a no-no! This works great! This is what I suggest: about 3" or so styrofoam ball beans, corn,peas..your choice hot glue gun and 3 or 4 sticks hot glue *craft paint- wish I'd painted mine a color close the the color of the beans-your choice! clear spray finish-I always use the inexpensive one at WalMart..costs about $1 Paint your styrofoam ball and let it dry. Speed it up with a blow dryer if you want :D That's what I do!! mark your center line with a rubber band; run about a half an inch to one inch hot glue along edge of rubber band and set your beans on it. Make sure you don't glue down the rubber band! Remove it after you 've made one circle of beans. You'll get this done in less than an hour. I also suggest setting out a pile of beans with the eyes all pointing in one direction so you can pick them up and glue them down quickly. the one in the photo is not sprayed. I think I will disguise the center with a velvet ribbon or something that "goes" with it,lol..i could NOT pull the beans off. Maybe if I heated up the center line with blow dryer I could pull them out a little? ah well,my mistakes teach me something, so it's all good! Here is a link that might be useful: Kudzu's Blog

I had one too that one of my classmates mom made I'd like to have that pattern too. I remember that I was going to eat it when I got home. My mom grabbed it I got told real quick that not happening. It hung on our tree for several years.