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Location

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Date Posted

Covington,Va

What is the best manure to put on a pumpkin patch? should it have straw/hay mixed in it or straight manure?

10/14/2009 1:59:59 PM

Covington,Va

OHH, and do you want fresh manure or some thats set awhile?

10/14/2009 2:00:47 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

Manure is a fickle friend. Too much or too fresh and your plants go *BOOM!*.

I use composted (well aged) cow and horse manure. Avoid chicken droppings due to high nitrogen content.

Get your soil tested to determine what kind of amendments to make. Other more experienced growers will be able to fill you in in much greater detail.

10/14/2009 8:10:58 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

"Green Manure" - a cover crop like winter wheat or winter rye is always safe. It reduces soil compaction and increases organic matter.

10/14/2009 8:13:07 PM

Upstate S.C.

Kat, Most type's of manure's are O.K. as long as the animal is a meat eater. COW, HORSE, and CHICKEN is all good. However they are all different, take chicken for example, Chicken is higher in Nitrogen WHEN GREEN, that mean fresh. As long as you compost it, it's ok. In fact it's a good idea to compost it or let it sit. That "cools" it down, and make it ok. Like someone else mentioned get a soil test and that will give you an idea of what you need and how much of it you need it. As far as straw, I think it's ok as long as it IN COMPOST, if your gonna put in strait on your patch you can do without it, however I don't think it will hurt anything.

10/15/2009 1:23:43 AM

Long Island,New York

You DO NOT want manure from a meat eater due to risk of disease transfer and other biological ickies.

10/15/2009 5:50:29 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Horse has more potassium than cow but must be well composted. Horses have only 1 stomach so weed seeds pass through. Cows chew cud. These multiple stomachs/chewings destroy many weed seeds.

All manures are better when properly composted.

10/15/2009 10:06:24 AM

Upstate S.C.

TYPO, TYPO, TYPO.......I meant to say as long as the animal IS NOT a meat eater...

10/15/2009 6:28:58 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

From a previous post, one of our better Iowa growers applies fresh cow manure every other year in the fall. along with a heavy shot of leaves. He doesn't have any problems.

The problem with fresh manure is that it usually is too hot with nitrogen. But as the leaves break down in the soil they will tie up a lot of that excess nitrogen. It will become available to the plant the second year. Straw or hay in the manure would do the same as leaves. I have been applying a mix of old and fresh manure with hay in the fall and so far I haven't blown up or burned any pumpkins with it. In fact I probably could get by applying a whole lot more if I could get it.

10/15/2009 9:21:07 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

HOLY COW!!! & HORSE!!! I have never been happier than I am right now!!! Thanks SCTROOPER for clearing that up!!! I was startin to be a skaird of my chickens!!! LOL !!! Peace, Wayne LOL

10/16/2009 2:03:38 AM