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Salem, OR

Help, I just got my "first ever" soil analysis back and could really use some help from the experts.

pH 7.3
Organic Matter 11.12%
Nitrates 42 ppm
Phosphorus 59ppm
Potassium 742ppm
Calcium 1376
Sodium 67ppm
Zinc 8.3ppm
Copper 1.5ppm
Manganese 10ppm
Iron 62ppm
Boron 1.9ppm
CEC 10

N ratio is 2:1

Help!!! Plants are in the ground in cold frames, could probably do one more tilling around the cold frames to work in the needed amendments. Any help for this new grower would be greatly appreciated!!

5/29/2007 7:52:58 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I would go ahead & grow in it just the way it is for this year. You might want to lower the pH in the long-term but not with plants in the ground. Plus 7.3 isn't a real problem.

Keep addding aged manure/compost in the fall every year.

Fish & Seaweed foliar applications should keep the plants happy enough the way things are.

5/29/2007 10:42:30 PM

Salem, OR

I am concerned about the Nitrogen level (reported stated it was low) and the calcium in particular. Is there any harm in adding amendments to address those two issues in particular? Thanks.

5/29/2007 11:06:51 PM

President - GPC

One could foliar spray a program such as Agro-K to provide what may be missing from the soil. Check it out......

http://candjfert.com/pages/Pumpkinprogram.html....I even noticed that some of the products are OMRI listed.

5/30/2007 9:02:34 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Foliar applications of Nutrical (or similar) would be nice after fruitset. Calcium Nitrate would be a very logical side-dress as the vines run.

5/30/2007 11:59:03 AM

Phoenix, AZ

Where is your Magnesium number? Initially looks as if your K will be a dominant Cation. As tremor said, use calcium nitrate.

5/30/2007 6:41:20 PM

Salem, OR

Ben, my magnesium level came out at 251ppm. On the calcium nitrate, I found 10lbs of calcium nitrate (15-0-0) in my "arsenal", but it only has directions for disolving in water prior to use. Can I just work it into the garden as is and then water, or does it have to be disolved in water first and then used as a drench?
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the help.
-Sandy

5/31/2007 11:11:25 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

You can use CN as a granular side dress as long as you water it in. No need to dig it in as this might cause root damage depending on how far along the plants are.

6.25 lbs broadcast on 1000 sq ft yields 1 lb of Nitrogen/1000 or 44 lbs N/acre which is fine in most soils to get vines running.

6/1/2007 12:01:58 AM