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maine USA

Thinks that I have learned this winter on Big Pumpkins:
1. You should grow organically, no chemical fertilizers
2. It takes about 2-3 years for organic matter to become available in a form that your plant can use.
3. You should make a new patch every couple of years.
Sooo should I conclude that I should not use chemical fertilizers to grow my pumpkin for the 1st year or 2 until the organic matter kicks in. Just in time for me to abandon the patch for my new piece of ground??? MMMMM! LOL KathyT

1/20/2007 5:36:06 PM

maine USA

Oops didn't I just put this under the wrong category!

1/20/2007 8:51:18 PM

So. Maine

Maybe Kathy but I bet you could trade a few of those 812 seeds (that you produced this past summer) for some other good sized giants .....

1/20/2007 10:53:42 PM

maine USA

thanks Al

1/20/2007 11:45:35 PM

I bet she already has !!

1/21/2007 12:42:19 AM

maine USA

Dan you are so right. LOL

1/21/2007 8:57:12 AM

Bradford,Maine

Kathy,
You are absolutly right on putting organic matter in your pumpkin patch!By putting chemically ferts to your soil does great for about 2 years then you wonder why your pumpkin doesnt get to the potential like you saw in the first year as time goes on!Your just killing the nutrients in the soil by putting chem ferts in your soil!Thats why organic ferts is the way to go!Test your soil once a year and make sure your PH levels at 6.5-7.0 for pumpkins.I relized as time goes on when you grow organicly your PH levels tend to rise so add sulfur in the fall and spring and it will keep it elevated!If you want to know more on organic gardening just email me and I can fill all the answer for ya.Elroy

1/22/2007 1:06:30 AM

Salem, OR

I'm still not completely convinced about "no chemical fertilizers." I firmly believe (works for me) that the soil needs lots of organic material. I tried putting on 2-4" of composted manure and other composts and 6-12" of leaves for two years in a row to build up my soil. I think that those two things are the key. However, I still didn't get anywhere near 1000 pounds until I added 2-3 times the "recommended amount" of granular 14-14-14 last spring. And then, bingo, one 1038 pounder (1200 Trumm X open) and one 983.5 pounder (1370 Rose X 1225 Jutras). I still don't know. I could see going back to purely organic in a year or so, but I'll be sure to add quite a bit of fresh manure in the fall if I do.

2/9/2007 5:02:02 PM