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Kansas

Hello All, This was my results from a recent soil test: ph= 6.5 , phoph= 100+ ppm , potash= 404 ppm , organic content was 2.9% . What should i add(if anything) to get to the optimum levels??? And also are my phoph and potash numbers to high..??..How fast will the pumpkins deplete these nutrients..??..And should i add the two to my weekly fertilizing schedule during the growing season? Thanks for all the help i hope i receive.

4/16/2002 5:25:54 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey guy..Didn't they give you a recommendation on what to add. I'm a rookie like you but your gonna hear from the big guys Manure Manure and more manure. They also like a high organic material count some of them say as high as twenty percent. So if there are any leaves around that you can chop up and get in now do it. How large is the patch. that will help. You wait these guys are the best..another biggie is you have to get langevins book on "How to grow world class pumpkins" Good Luck this year! Chuck

4/16/2002 6:38:08 PM

Kansas

My local gardening expert said that i have a very high salt content. Which i believe because our entire city is built on top of deep beds of salt. Our city supplies rock salt all over the world and my local gardeners say the salt levels here are so high that it makes the potassium levels skyrocket. He suggested that i admend the soil with gypsum...40 lbs per 100 square feet. My patch is only about 800 sq ft. and i have never grown a garden of any type at this location. I think i will pick up the suggested book by Chuck above...any others recommended....anyone...???? 20% sounds like alot on the organic material count but i wouldn't know for this is my first time at this. I appreciate all information and help from everyone who enjoys this hobby. Thanks...

4/16/2002 7:07:27 PM

western Kentucky

I am not completely for sure.. but i heard someone say that the organtic matter that they aim for is around 10%. so i will have to agree with chuck leaves and manure, but i don't know if it would be a good idea to put on fresh cow manure right before the growing season. I think it would burn the plants and hurt them more than it would help... if u could find some good composted manure around i would add it.

Justin

4/17/2002 1:16:53 AM

Bemidji, MN

Don't be to concerned about your P/K levels at this point. For 5 years my levels have been off the charts with all the manure/compost I add(10"/year), and it hasn't hurt my fruit development(5 over 750+ in 4 years). You definately need to get your organic matter levels up though. Mine have been around 20% for past few years and that drastically helps your fruit. If you can get that level incereased, you won't have to rely heavily on adding nutrients during growing season. Steve

4/17/2002 9:15:16 AM

Kansas

Thanks for the advice Chuck , Justin and Steve.

4/17/2002 7:25:42 PM