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Nj

Ok, My soil isn't that great, but I did get my pH tested, and it is now balanced. My OM is like at 1.3 So, I went in search for more OM, I found a horse owner that would bring the manure here, and she has about a cubic yard she will drop off. That really isn't that much so what I am going to do is, put it in the pits that I will plant the pumpkin in. Now, would it be, in your opinions, beneficial to me, if I lay down some 10-10-10 slow release fertilizer, and kelp meal (for micros) this year? Will that simulate, to a degree, good soil? I know kelp is an amazing soil amendment, and ordered 50 pounds of it. :) Any information would be appreciated. Also, would Mycorrhizal fungi be good for the plants?

Thanks! John

2/21/2004 2:04:25 PM

Nj

n/m Got my answer through an email
Thank you
John

2/21/2004 10:54:06 PM

Montoursville, PA

Gee I like every thing you have done except the synthetic which will kill or deaden in part the biologically sound soil you are hoping to build. You can excite growth with the synthetics but it will do absolutely nothing to build you a better ballenced soil. There is nothing in it that will help or support the biological soil life in any form.

You might do better for yourself to add a good organic fertilizer as offered by Fertrell and many other fine organic products.

Something else to consider is that the poorer the soil the more sever would be the loss of biological life. Adding elements that kill the bacteria is a wrong move because it is the bacteria you need to build the strong healthy soil the rest of your program is nicely designed to do.

All organic blends of organic materials to help you build that patch are already considered slow release over the long period of time. Your first goal should be to increase your humus content up to above five percent. All things being reasonably ballanced many hugh fruit some above a thousand lbs have been produced. This would take a year or so but the patch would be in better health each year in direct relationship to the synthetics you do not use.

It is my opinion that if you choose to charge this patch up with synthetics you will lower it's health below, perhaps below the point of recovery pretty quick.

2/22/2004 11:30:36 AM