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Garden State Pumpkins

Ph has dropped from 6.3 to 6.1 P and K are above optimal...Nitrogen is the only recommended 6 pounds of 33-0-0 per thousand sq ft. That's about 1 and a half for the patch size. So it's not nitrogen thats causing the aborts. They did add this though "Maganese may be toxic to some crops with low PH. My maganese has dropped since planting form 900 lbs/A to 632 lb/A ...and Calcium is still off the charts about half since planting at 7818 Lbs/A...

The additional nitrogen only stopped completely the females from blooming. If the magnesium is the problem And I can't add any Calcium based lime what do ya do!... I have a feeling that the tissue sample I do is going to show Anthracnose spread from the beans but will adjust the PH this year if you have any ideas on how to without calcium!
Thanks Gang any help will be appreciated! Chuck

8/10/2002 7:00:59 PM

colorado

Maybe use epsom salts???

8/10/2002 7:22:22 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Thanks colanan but I think there telling me it's to high already with the PH level!

8/10/2002 8:14:41 PM

Puyallup, WA

Virtually all the "heavy hitters" have readings well above "average" in most categories. Next March, check your pH once again and if it is low(usually drops with alot of rain), then add dolomite lime.

8/11/2002 1:50:24 AM

Columbus Ohio

It is a balance that you are looking for in your soil. Everything can be high or low or inbetween but in balance and you will be fine. When you get into the problem of having one thing really high like P or K or Mg you end up with an uptake problem. The plant will take up more of the high nutrience and another nutrience will suffer.
I myself have very high P. This has caused a Mn, Mg K and Ca defiency in my plants as indicated by a leaf tissue test. I have foliar feed my plants and have had great results. This fall I am going to fix the P problem and will hopfully have less problems next year.
I have learned that high is not always better, balanced is.
The best way to get balanced is to get a good soil test with recomendation. I use Kinsey Agricultural Services (www.kinseyag.com) and they cost $50 for the first test and $35 for each additional test. It is really worth the extra $.

John

8/11/2002 11:36:19 AM

Northern Ohio

Dear Pumpkinhead,
How does taking up a high nutrience cause the others to suffer? Wouldn't it leave the other nutrients alone?
When is the best time to take soil samples?
I grew up in Cols., do you live in Arlington?
Mary

8/11/2002 1:06:15 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Thanks for the input. I limed and used gypsom this year to break up the clay and offset the foot of chopped leaves I added last fall. The Calcium level was at 17,000 lbs/acre..Yikes! Anyway that soil test recommended nitrogen only and not try adjust the PH anymore till the calcium dropped. Calcium has dropped but still extremely high, so will go with the dolemite lime as long as it's not calcium based. This test also indicates only a non water soluable nitrogen in the 33-0-0 level will seek out and disk in!
Thanks again for all your help! Chuck

8/12/2002 5:52:28 AM