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High Desert, California

I'm new to the High Desert and just learning how to grow in this area. Coming from NC, it is very different. I have unsuccessfully found online instructions for growing pumpkins in my area. However, I did come across this site. Can anyone direct me to a good source of information online? Or feel free to offer your own experience/suggestions. I know I can't plant until next year, but I'm sure there is prep to do this year. Thanks!

9/26/2003 9:51:11 PM

porterville, calif.

Hi, You came to the right place. You will get all the help you need here. The people here are great. You might want to go to the growers diaries here in Bp. Look at what they have done to prepare. Also look at the How to Area you will get the answers to alot of your questions. All you really have to do is ask and someone here will tell what to do or not to do. Now is the the time to prepare for next year so go for it. Good Luck and grow em Big.. Greg

9/27/2003 3:29:23 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Welcome to the obsession! Go get all the composted manure you can find and start the patch prep!!!Seems to me everyone here who started with a huge pile of manure in their diaries had a pretty good year! Chuck

9/27/2003 7:01:37 AM

Oz

do you have a water source?
what kind of crazy weather do you get in summer there?

get a fence with critter fencing on the bottom.
plant sacrifice plants around your fenced patch.

concider misters.
poly/water crystals would help.
and canadian peat.lime cools acidic nature

and old pumpkins(deseeded)
and lots of pucky

im assuming high desert is just that,,,,,,,,

got snakes? you do now! they love shade!!!
your water system will attract all kinds of critters.

i would think you get major rays there,,so sunshade netting might help.

plastic covered hill rows might help keep your soil protected from the sun.
ants think the plastic is a roof and move in..

get the hills high enough up to keep the roots above where the water pools...look to see if your patch is in a flash "flood" path.
that could be bad or good if precautions are in place.

plant a row of tall grass around your patch to soften the wind.
tall fescue will start in fall.
im not sure what grass will grow in the high desert,,
run a soaker hose under your grass.
or use some kind of wind block.

maybe get some insect screeing with very small mesh.
then tent your patch completly.
im going to try a small screen tent next time i grow.
thrip proof.
im covering the ground with enkadrain type material.
and adding clean soil on top of it.

i started this years plants in reinforced(duct tape)
peat bags with premix soil.
when i put them to the soil in the patch i cut open the bottom of the bags and put them ontop of a premix soil pit.

im going to try starting a bunch next spring that way and sell the plants..
with options,,,hehe 24in rims cd lol,,,

good luck...get working!!lol,,playtime isnt untill august!!

9/27/2003 10:23:47 AM

Montoursville, PA

Your soil will improve the same as any soil with regular additions of manures, compost and or the elements of compost. In the Northeast leaf material is a major additive. What do you have that you can get free?

Get your soil test habit started. Work to increase the humus and arrive at a PH of 6.5 - 7.2. Don't be concerned about to much manures including an end of your season cover crop. These are the basics....tweaking it to excellent takes a little learning and time.

While you are building your patch consider a low number organic fertilizer like 5-3-2 or even lower numbers rather than chemical based synthetic fertilizers. Four to six inches of manures added in the fall will move you forward very nicely. That is difficult but not impossible to find and apply at the cost of only your time.

The maintaince of an adequate water supply will be a major study in patience on your part. These AG's need a lot. Other growers from your part of the country will help you as you find them. Water management gets easier as humus content improves.

1/9/2004 11:21:56 AM