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Jericho Vermont

I attempted to bury 2 of my AG vines with about 3 inches of garden dirt. This resulted in the vines rotting and greatly decreased my pumkin size.The last month I felt the pumkin was only getting nutrients on main stem tap roots. does anyone know why this happened or has had similar problems?

1/24/2004 12:43:47 PM

Montoursville, PA

Did you add a lot of manure unfinished compost and/or leaves, in the spring? This could have been one cause. To much rain, not that we had any last summer could have caused it. To much harsh synthetic fertilizer and not enough humis working to buffer it could be a cause. To much insecticide or fungicide is a possible that wiped out the living benificials. All of these reasons, or a combination, of them, could have caused it. Whatever caused it you ended up with to many fungi and not enough live and well bacteria or other living critters, to ballance the situation.

1/24/2004 4:43:48 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

jk - What type of soil do you have?

Does it drain well after a heavy rain or are there "puddles" in your patch?

1/24/2004 7:03:10 PM

Jericho Vermont

Thx I have not put enough time and energy into testing my soil. I do use horse manure and home grown compost. I am also having troubles getting AG pumpkins over 200 lbs. i am feeling that the soil can be a major problem for me. My soil doesnt drain real well maybe I should add some peat to it.

1/25/2004 1:39:39 PM

White Plains, NY

Maybe we are trying to force the plant to do something that its not designed to do by burying the vines.

I will keep my Mains above ground this year at least between the stump and fruit. My 550 didn't reach its full potential due to the main rotting.

1/25/2004 1:50:15 PM

Jericho Vermont

I think I am going to keep mine above this yr as well capt.I am hoping as long as the soil is good enough for a nice solid tap root maybe I can get a large one.

1/25/2004 1:59:33 PM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Hey jkpa, I had similar problems last year and I have a hunch that it is because of the lack of Ca. Ca is essential for all responses to pathogens… I will add some gypsum (CaSO4) and hope it will work but for you everybody here would suggest to get a soil test first.

Doc, I have a lot of not completely composted leaves in the soil. Do you think this could be a problem?

Jernej

2/27/2004 2:27:22 AM