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Arroyo Grande, CA,USA

Lots of really big pumpkins were grown this but not in our patch. We always do a soil test and they recommend to us what we need to add to grow the biggest pumpkin. But not sure if they know what is needed to grow a big one.
Brooks Bosworth grew some really big pumpkins this year. He was able to talk to Pap about what he needed to do his soil to give the plant the best chance to grow.Most of us have the best seeds out there so what is the proplem. Would be nice to know the results of the soil test that produce the biggest pumpkins from the top ten growers over the last 5 to 10 years. And hopefully take are results and go to a web site that will tell us what we need to add to make the changes. Now I know if you add this it's going to affect that, not just what your are trying to fix but will change other things. I know there isn't a quick fix but would be nice to be able to go to a web site with data in hand and a goal.
If you are like us work really hard in the patch but made mistakes. Because we didn't know better. I think soil is first on the list to grow a very big pumpkin. The rest is the about of time we have to help her grow.
IIs there a web site that can inform us on what we need to do to match to the big growers soils.
thanks
randy (what! no spell check)

10/10/2007 6:13:30 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Geeze, uh, that's a hard one to answer but a very good question.

I've been a gardener for over 40 years and growing AGP's for 6 years and still I haven't found the magic web site. The closest thing I have ever come across is BP.com and all the resources these incredible folks here come up with.

One of the most famous growers of all time once told me "there is no silver bullet. Nothing can substitute for experience and hard work."

Its pretty basic. Study your questions first and try and determine your problems using the internet as a resource. Read, research and understand soil biology. Then post a question and the answers will come forth. There is a mentor waiting in the patch to guide you along.

Good Luck & Good Growing.

Russ

10/10/2007 6:50:47 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

FTT3, take soil samples, send them to good testing facility, and then post on this board. I will be willing to bet my best seed, that you get responses!!! Peace, Wayne

10/10/2007 8:32:37 PM

Hayward, CA

Hi Peace Wayne! So what is your best seed??!!??!!

10/10/2007 10:13:49 PM

Arroyo Grande, CA,USA

Thanks Russ & Wayne,

Yes, Russ there is no silver bullet and trust me I do most of the prep and my wife works really hard during the growing season. Read, research and try to understand, we do, we try and we will. But to save time and money I was hoping, the growers that are in the running year after year would post there soil test on this page, which they probally have in the past. What I'm asking is would they do it one more time since the last 2 years the record has really changed. Would like to see the soil samples from the top 10 growers over the last 2 years. And that may not big a big enough cross sample. The rest as far as finding a web site, I can do that, may take some time but when I find it I will post it for all to see.

Willing to work hard but, work smart!!!


Thanks Russ & Wayne

10/10/2007 10:27:32 PM

southwest MO

FTT3, Let me play devils advocate and say that if 10 soil test #'s where posted from top growers, the #'s would be so different you would know less than when you started...

10/11/2007 11:30:11 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Ditto Boy Genius. Especially with the micros. Id say the biggest factors are the macros (NPK), Oganic Matter (OM) and pH.

Get those in line, likely the rest will follow.

Lets see that soil analysis though.

10/11/2007 11:58:38 AM

Midwest

Added to the above posts... You've asked about soil test which focuses on the content of the soil. I believe to grow big pumpkins, the structure of the soil is very important. Clay pan and rock hard soil stops the freedom of roots to expand. I believe that early root growth is important because those roots have to be in place during pollination to feed the pumpkin. So, I'm suggesting that you also deal with the soil tilth as well as deal with the content. It seems to me that those growers who get really BIG pumpkins have worked on their soil in the FALL and again in the early Spring. I believe I've marked them adding Calcium and humus to the patch. They get better each year because of constantly improving the tilth of their soil. Also, I think they have found a way to minimize and/or remove soil pathogens. They make the soil healthy by replacing or suppressing pathogens. There's so much to consider beyond tilth of the soil. Is the OM completely broken down? etc...

10/11/2007 1:23:03 PM

Colorado

The following link maybe of some help in understanding
the biology of your soil.
http://www.soilfoodweb.com/03_about_us/approach_pgs/a_01_benefits.html

10/11/2007 2:26:12 PM

Colorado

I should add that the 12 step approach that is listed
on the page is interesting reading and sounds like
solid info...LB

10/11/2007 2:33:08 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

This might be opening a can of worms but I already see them peaking out so....

First Timers Take Three is asking about soil CHEMISTRY.
LongBeard is pointing to soil BIOLOGY.

These are two different yet important disciplines. Neither should ever be ignored but there are many people who do ignore one or the other & still do OK...sometimes.

Get Ron Wallace's DVD from last year's 1502WR. It comes as no surprise to me that Joe Jutras followed Ron's lead to the 1689WR.

This isn't rocket science. On the chemistry side we need to feed a plant that loves Calcium & Potassium. We need to do so in a biologically active soil.

That's all.

10/13/2007 7:09:37 PM