From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Canada

Just wanted to let ya know that I Had my coil tested
costed me $12.95 canadian and took 1 week for results
I had NO idea what test to have done so i had the
soil fertility test done which basically measures PH

My levels in my garden are at 3.6 for PH I read in one of
my posts that it wants to be roughly 7 for growing pumpkins

SO how do i go abouts of doing this ?

and say i overdo it and when i get my results back in the spring after a good winter rye crop + tons of manure and its
over an PH or 7 say its around 8 or 9 would i be in trouble or the Higher the better or how does this work?

Now that i know its at 3.8 for PH what would you rec that i do to get it around 7 or 8 for best growing results for pumpkings? thanks

P.S I REALLY hate to do this BUT ive decided i'm gonna give up my entire garden for pumpkings come the 2004 growing season and plant my other vegitabls else were My tomatoes and lettuce and cuecumbers will be grown along the side fence while my pumpkings have the entire 15x20 garden ( which has been enlarged BIG TIME) when it use to be 12x10

so in an garden of 15x20 i should be beable to put 1 plant in each corner ( have them grown out onto the lawn) and have 2 in the middle for an total of 6 plants correct? or is this overdoing it?

thanks again

Dave

9/20/2003 9:59:17 PM

Puyallup, WA

Dave...Is your growing area 300 sq.ft or 300 square meters?

9/20/2003 10:43:44 PM

Canada

15ft x 20 ft dave

9/20/2003 10:56:57 PM

Rexburg, Idaho (brianchristensenmd@gmail.com )

3.6 pH. Never heard of one that low. Are you growing in a peat bog or something? Thats enough acid to cause heartburn.

9/20/2003 11:15:35 PM

Puyallup, WA

Very well....a pH of 3.6 is extremely low. If I were you, I'd add about 80 pounds of lime, along with the manure, this fall and rototill it into the soil. The pH will drop further this winter due to the rain and the new manure.
A new pH test should be done in early April and then you can "fine tune" the ammendments. You are looking for a 6.5 or so at that time. You many not be able to move it 3 points in just six months.
Remember, Ph is only one component of a complete soil test. You may be low in several other important elements.

Stan

9/20/2003 11:25:05 PM

Taber, Alberta

My garden is about 15 x 25 and my one pumpkin plant I put in this year could have easily gone well out into the grass if I had not buried the vines at the end. I think with the size you describe, one plant is all you may be able to handle.

Alan

9/21/2003 12:28:13 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

3.6??? Apply at least some lime immediately. But pull another sample & get a second opinion test done. Send it to me & I'll have our commercial lab test it for free. I'm very curious about this one.

Email me for the address.

Steve

9/21/2003 12:32:46 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Dave,
Before you throw on the lime will you humour me and check that it is 3.6 pH and not 3.6% Organic Matter.

Mark

9/21/2003 7:04:39 AM

Itzetown City

He probably will have pumpkin-sweet-sour direct from the patch. LOL

9/21/2003 8:20:12 AM

Itzetown City

Serious, i read that vinegar reduce the pH. Is that true and if it is so, how many vinegar i have to bring in and how often should i do that to reduce the pH -1?

9/21/2003 8:25:57 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Sulphur Bunky! or use sulfates as fertilizers. coffee grinds will lower it if you have enough and bring in the worms in droves!

9/21/2003 8:42:37 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

I don't believe you pH could be 3.6. Something wrong has to be in that analysis. If that is truth -and I am sure it is not-, forget about plant, but not only pumpkins, nothing will grow there.
As I guess you have seen some weeds or anything growing in that place, then the pH have to be much higher.

Carlos

9/21/2003 8:54:20 AM

Montoursville, PA

Something is wrong! Contact Steve. Send sample to Steve as he offered.

9/21/2003 10:01:53 AM

Montoursville, PA

Oops.........better yet skan your test results page and send it to Steve too.

9/21/2003 10:02:39 AM

Canada

Gotta be a mistake somewere Because Basically all the soil
in my garden was brought in a few years ago by a truck load
from an top soil place.. My graden is about 3 feet deep
and under the graden is basically just the dirt that was always there ( under the grass) we pulled the grass out and framed in teh area and filled the middle in with regular top soil my soil is pretty much a light light brown but
every growing season ive had great luck with cuecumbers
tomatoes lettucec and YES WEEDS so ya my test results gotta be wrong or have been mixed up I donno but am gonna ask to have it re tested come monday mourning

Like i mentioned before never had this done before not sure if i sent enough or what happened but will let ya all know

thanks again

daveM

9/21/2003 5:38:37 PM

Western NY

Hi Dave. not sure where you sent it to, but it sounds highly unlikely that your pH is actually that low. where did you send it? if you want to try again, i would suggest the A+L out of london

website : http://www.al-labs-can.com

Andy

9/22/2003 10:40:49 AM