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Western PA

I have added a lot of ground up maple leaves to my patch. I have a lot more that can be added. I would say that most of the patch is covered by about 1.5-2 inches of ground leaves.
Would it be ok to add more ? Also, their is a chance that my ground may not get dry enough that I may not get them tilled in until next spring. Would that be a problem ?
Thanks , Lee

10/31/2009 9:58:23 AM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

You may want to consider composting them in bins before adding them to the patch. You can mulch and till leaves into the soil all day long until your tiller isn't touching soil anymore, but you may run the risk that it is not fully composted enough in the spring, and come time for pumpkins, all the nitrogen will be tied up by the microbes breaking down the organic matter.

10/31/2009 12:22:52 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I run my leaves through my lawn mower, then into the bagger and spread them on the patch.

After being tilled in and cover crop grown...then tilled again in the spring...there are very little if any remnants of leaves left over.

10/31/2009 1:19:18 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Maple leaves are OK to use this way but Oak leaves need to be composted first. We ended up with a landscapers mix of leaves 2 years ago. Bacterial inoculants can speed the composting as can molasses but time oxygen & worms are cheaper.

10/31/2009 2:20:50 PM

Corbin, KY

I applied a 6-8 inch layer of leaves to my vegtable garden last winter. I didn't get them tilled or turned in the fall. The leaves were like a mulch and the garden just about never dried enough to plow in the spring. So to answer it is better to till in now rather than spring.

10/31/2009 3:04:57 PM

Western PA

Very good point Tim. I hope to get out this week to till them in. Thanks all for the good replies. Lee

11/1/2009 7:15:50 AM

churchville, ny

I would definitely compost or mulch any leaves before I put them on my patch. I've been growing giants for 25 years and twice have had the town bring in truck loads of leaves in the fall and dump them on my patch (I worked them in lightly). The following years both times have been flops. That includes this year - after growing my pb of 1119 lbs. last year I thought I would have my soil tested, increase my organic matter, add myc. fungi, kelp, seaweed, etc. and try for a new pb. With 16 plants this year my biggest was 375 lbs. Yes, the weather here in western NY was not conducive for pumpkin growing but Alan Nesbitt, Joe Pukos and others were certainly successful. So I agree with Alex B that all the nitrogen is tied up. The other year I added a large quantity of leaves barely any grew BUT the next year was great - 2010 will tell.

11/9/2009 7:32:58 PM