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Australia

Hi guys. I'm still new to growing pumpkins, so I'm not really sure what's best when it comes to preparing the soil. This year i dug in some lime and a slow release fertiliser, and the plants are going fine. I was just wondering if there are some other ways to improve the soil before planting?

Thanks

12/13/2007 1:31:29 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Hard to say. You cant improve unless you know where you are now.

You should get a soil test done. Post the results for further discussion.

12/13/2007 10:09:56 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

If you search patch prep you should find many things growers try, many live by soil tests but some top growers don't use them. I found one of the best things I have done is to bury my vines with leaf compost and it tends to aid in the feeding of the plant and also prepares the patch for next year by adding organic content in the same step. Spraying patch with fish/seaweed mixture never hurts either. Good Luck - Kirk

12/13/2007 3:04:37 PM

Georgia

If ya dont want too do a actual soil test which many growers dont at least get a cheap Ph tester and test your soil Ph levels.

12/13/2007 3:17:41 PM

id advise test your cheap ph tester a few years back i tried 1 tested patch-tested manure tested compost tested peat tested pure sand i went around to about every thing i could test glass of water can of pop all read 7 i threw ph tester away

12/13/2007 4:08:45 PM

Georgia

Good point Don.. I Use on of the Ph tester that looks like a probe. I like to do a couple of mock tests before I actually test the soil. Your right if its hitting at 7 every time you must be living in a perfect PH world like a twilight zone or someting.

12/13/2007 4:20:20 PM

Australia

Thanks for the replies. I should have said that I had already done a basic PH soil test, it was reading 5.5 initially, but I added some lime and eventually got the PH up to 6.5 - 7.

12/13/2007 6:45:45 PM

Minnesota

I'm new also, this fall I added free coffee grounds from the local coffee shop, they did'nt mind giving them away. I also got 30 bags of leafs that I ran over with the lawn mower and telled them into the ground. I was also told that 10-10-10 fertilizer was helpful.

12/13/2007 6:52:26 PM

Georgia

Your Ph sounds real good 6.5 to 7 is real good. I shoot for 6.9 but thats just what I like. Add plenty of organic material if ya can get some id say.

12/13/2007 7:16:16 PM