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Santa Cruz, CA

We picked our pumpkins last weekend for our county fair. Our 1502 weighed 786lbs and our 983 Pukos- 688lbs. Both were our personal bests and we were very happy. We have cleared the patch and our soils test is as follow. Help is greatly appreciated. Thanks- Kristine and Riley

Organice Matter 15.6 percent
Nitrogen 114ppm
Phosphorus- weak bay- 175ppm
Phosphorus-157ppm
Potassium- 693ppm
Magnesium- 356ppm
Calcium- 2416 ppm
Sodium- 90ppm
Sulfur- 212ppm
Zinc- 28.9 ppm
Manganese- 15ppm
Iron- 61ppm
Copper- 1.5ppm
Boron- 1.4ppm

Ph 6.2
ECs 3.3
CEC 19.5
Ex.Lime L

Percentage Cation Saturation
Potassium 9.1 percent
Magnesium 15.0 percent
Calcium 61.9 percent
Sodium 2.0 percent

It looks to me that A and L Labs is recommending that we add 210lbs of Lime to our 3,000ft patch. Any thing else we should add? We usually add 300lbs of Gypsum too.

9/13/2007 10:36:57 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Your potassium is really high. Your Magnesium should be one and a half times that of Potassium. Potassium that is that high will make your pumpkins mature. I had the same problem with very high Potassium and Ron Wallace told me I had to harvest off some of the potassium.

9/13/2007 10:50:44 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

How do you harvest off some potassium?

9/14/2007 12:17:45 AM

Cornell, Wi

Ya how do ya harvest potassium, mine is 1940 ppm

9/14/2007 10:25:16 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Here is a good site to start with. If you look at my pictures under diaries you will see where I have a area set a side for 2008 that has alfala growing in it. Alfalfa is great at taking up potassium. To much potassium in out of balance soil will make your pumpkins ripen early. http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/Soilfacts/AG-439-16/

9/15/2007 12:11:51 AM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

Brian, I had a fruit stop growing at about day 28 at 220 lbs. My question is could that be considered ripening early?

Thanks

Kenny

9/15/2007 3:51:29 AM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

Kristine & Riley

I'm sorry for jumping in here on your posting. I should have started my own. Please forgive me.

Kenny

9/15/2007 8:39:08 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

This is why you see a lot of the heavy hitters don't use 0-0-50. Once you get your potassium levels super high, you got work ahead of yourself to get rid of it. Do a web search on "balancing soil"

9/15/2007 12:19:27 PM