From

Location

Message

Date Posted

nanaimo,B.C,Canada

Goat and sheep manure . Is this good for the garden?. also what about straw in the patch?

thanks DAVE

8/31/2002 10:27:06 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

any manure is good as long as it's age good. if you get it know, it will be fine for next year

8/31/2002 11:22:59 PM

Yreka, CA

I am too new to know whether this is true or not, but I was told that, while straw is great for mulch, and compost too I guess, you would never want to have your pumpkin sitting directly on the straw. This, I was told, is because as the straw decomposes, it generates a lot of heat, which would surely kill your developing pumpkin. Maybe some of you more experienced blokes can tell us if this is a fact.
Patience

9/1/2002 5:12:36 PM

Liverpool , England

Yo patience,
The straw would have to be several inches thick to generate any heat and wet at that.

Alun

9/1/2002 7:50:35 PM

Montoursville, PA

Many growers place a foam board between the fruit and the soil or mulch surface. I use a piece of recycled wrestling mat about three feet square. That's just in case I get lucky and grow what is in my mind! Whatever material you use it should be closed cell so that it will not wick moisture from below or stay wet on surface to fruit area.

9/28/2002 7:29:40 AM

I have a few chickens and a couple of horses...and plenty of aged manure. I was going to stick a good size batch into the compost bins this weekend...but would I be better off adding it directly to the soil for next year??

I plan on attempting my very first big pumpkin as soon as the time is right in the spring.

Thanks,
Michele

10/10/2002 2:57:13 AM

Tacoma, WA

Michele,
I would do both!! In the past two years, I would "conservatively" say that I have added at least 200 yards of animal and human "by-products". The human component is in the form of TAGRO from the Tacoma Sewage
Treatment plant. In my opinion, it is very hard to "over
fertilize" with manure.

10/10/2002 4:45:50 PM

canal winchester ohio

Goat & sheep would be fine & don't worry if it's mixed with straw. The cow manure I put down last fall was mixed heavily with straw & with a application every 2 months of ammonium sulfate it was completely broken down by spring & the soil was VERY loose.

10/10/2002 7:50:50 PM

Montoursville, PA

Would not a closed cell spounge mat create a concave puddle effect as the fruit grows in weight? Where or how would run off be effective? I showed wrestling mat material to some growers as I can get it free. Those were the questions they ask me.

10/10/2002 8:20:19 PM