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W. Lafayette, Indiana

This might be a dumb question but I am a newbie this year so I can be forgiven. Anyway, I have a 35 x 70 ft garden this year. I have dumped 2 yards of black composted leaves (which is like black dirt) and 1 yard of semi composted horse manure per planting sight (5 sites total) and mixed them up well. Does this also need to be tilled in the rest of the garden or is it ok to plant my pumpkins on these “mounds” (composted leaves / manure) which are approx. 9 ft x 12 ft and 1 to 1.5 ft high? Thanks in advance for any answers.

3/20/2007 4:53:02 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

it doesn't NEED to be tilled in every where, but most people bury their vines to some extent, and it would make it easier to bury if your soil was loosened up

3/21/2007 8:14:22 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I agree with Gary and would most likely till it once myself just to have it nice and loose and fluffy. Make sure you keep a diary and post pictures of your progress. Newbies in freshly ammended virgin soil oftem have great results....best wishes!!

Glenn

3/22/2007 7:41:40 PM

W. Lafayette, Indiana

Thank you for your suggestions Gary and Glenn. Best wishes in '07!! :)

3/23/2007 8:43:21 AM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Be very careful not to till if the soil is too wet, especially if your soil has a lot of clay.

3/23/2007 1:57:58 PM

Moodus, Connecticut

As another newbie forgive me for needing to ask this, why would I bury the vines? I thought they grew above ground.

4/7/2007 9:12:15 AM

western PA

At each node on a vine, the plant will send out a root. this root will take up more nutrients from the soil. by burying the vine you will provide more area for more roots to come out of that node on the vine.

more root = more nutrient uptake.

4/7/2007 10:02:06 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

At our growers seminar round table discussion (GVGO) it was stressed that creating a mound to grow start your pumpkin in is essential. This gives a very fertile/rich area for the pumpkin plant to start in and elevates in case of excess rain. Hope this helps, Kirk

4/7/2007 5:54:18 PM