Message Board - BigPumpkins.com

Bethlehem CT

Ashton That is a good question, you are correct it doesn't tell you what minerals are in solution. But if you know your soils base EC before the season, you will have a pretty good idea of how much "complete" (with Micros) fertilizer you can add. I think it would be most helpful for growers that choose to "spoonfeed" liquid nutrients frequently. If your soil is already high in salts from the fertilizer you have added preseason etc, you are limited to how much and what you should be adding.
In the US greenhouse bedding plant industry, growers have been testing EC for years. Greenhouse growers are basically growing in a sterile (nutritionless) media to start with, so they use it as a gauge to measure how much fertilizer can be added to a crop.
I know that many of the First giant pumpkin growers to use EC as a gauge were the European growers that grow in a controlled environment under glass or plastic. I am sure they were quite familiar with the technique and use it on all the crops that they grow under glass. The first American that I became aware of using EC as a gauge in their AG patch was Steve Geddes, he mentions that he grows in a very sandy soil, which would be ideal for measuring EC as it would hold very few salts to begin with.
I am not sure EC would be as helpful to growers with higher clay and silt soils. (those soil types would tend to lock and hold salts.) Or Perhaps growers in Arid climates (like yours Ashton) would not benefit as much from the Spoonfeed then measure your EC approach.
I am no expert on the subject, it would be interesting to hear from some growers who are currently using EC as a measurement in their patch and hear their thoughts on why they use it in their particular situation.

4/6/2022 9:28:59 AM

EC meters on amazon cost from $60 to around $500.
What EC meters are growers using?

4/7/2022 6:18:37 AM

Colorado

Beni meier used cec measurements to guide his "spoon feeding"in 2014 when he grew the three biggest fruit that year.He presented that technique at the Orlando GPC show.I know he got my attention. He was growing in potting soil but others are using it in soil. Sounds like the patons,mendi, cutrupi(to name a few) are using this technique with obvious success.

4/7/2022 11:57:19 AM

Colorado

sorry-EC measurements

4/7/2022 12:24:20 PM

LongmontPete

Colorado

Joe- in your opinion, can a person effectively "spoon feed" in our local soils, or, more generally, can a person spoon feed in something other than a soilless or sandy media, or would you just build up salts?

4/8/2022 12:06:20 PM

Colorado

You can spoon feed in our soils. Sand is more forgiving than clay.

4/9/2022 1:47:44 AM

Bethlehem CT

Pete for a grower in a less forgiving situation they might find the EC reading helpful to prevent toxicity. Look at what Ralph in Utah says. He knows if it goes above a certain point the leaves will start to look weird. Once that happens the common solution is to drench the soil and push the salts deep below the root zone. Many soils have a hard pan layer which may make that hard to do. In our climate in the Northeast you would really, really have to overdue it with the fertilizers to cause a problem. We average an inch of rain every week year-round. This high rainfall has a tendency to push nutrients in solution (i.e. salts) out of the soil.
Gypsum is an old school ammendment that has been used over the years to help alleviate high salts in soils.

https://progressivecrop.com/2022/01/use-of-gypsum-to-reclaim-salt-problems-in-soils/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=use-of-gypsum-to-reclaim-salt-problems-in-soils

4/9/2022 8:19:48 AM

Bethlehem CT

When I first started in this hobby I remember hearing growers say don't be a "more-on". Meaning don't overdue it with fertilizers, more isn't always better. A plant can only take in so much at a time. Ec could be a good way to help guide someone who may have a "more on" approach to growing.

4/9/2022 8:31:20 AM

Colorado

Beni M was saying stay under 2.0 .He was perfecting the technique and using his plant observations to guide what was too salty.Now the guide is reported to be .6 to 1.2 and often thats daily .True spoon feeding.Beni was fertilizing every second to third day.

4/9/2022 9:34:43 AM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

Its time for less-on lessons :)

4/9/2022 2:23:19 PM

pumpkinpal2

Syracuse, NY

OH, Yeah!!!
Weigh to go, Gritty-O!!!

4/9/2022 3:42:17 PM

valtierra/spain

I have a tip. The seedbed substrate, always buy the one that has worked well for you. Do not buy a new one, and if you buy a new one, the most important thing is before sowing, put a little substrate in a glass, add a little water... and look at the ec of the substrate. The EC in germination must be low, up to 1.5 in fertilized substrates, but better EC less than 1.0, buy unfertilized substrates, you will fertilize later, with algae, humic, essential, rhizotonic or whatever you want. I have come to see seedbed substrates, which are fertilized, with an EC greater than 4.0. In this type of substrate, one seed out of 10 is born, it is not suitable for germinating pumpkin, the roots suffer a lot, and many seeds do not grow . I ruined some great seeds by buying a substrate like this, which had good comments on amazon, and when I saw that the seeds did not grow, I checked the EC and it had 4.0 EC. So it is very important to check the EC of your pots. I use the Hanna soil EC meter, it's very good. I've been with him for 5 years, and it's like the first year. The probe is stainless steel, it's perfect.

4/14/2022 5:47:00 PM

valtierra/spain

EC must be controlled from day 0 of growth, always. EC and PH are the factors that must always be controlled. Both in soil and in water. The ideal is always, low ec and low ph when you start... and increase little by little, while the plant gets bigger and bigger.

4/14/2022 5:50:26 PM

Bethlehem CT

Rmen what would you consider an ideal pH for starting? What would you consider an ideal pH later in the season?

4/15/2022 7:42:29 AM

KC Kevin

Mission Viejo, CA

Ruben - What model Hanna meter do you use?

4/15/2022 11:47:11 AM

valtierra/spain

yo comienzo con ph bajo, 6.3 aproximadamente.. luego 6,5, y me acerco a 7.0 en engorde. Mi suelo tiene un ph alto, este ph es el del agua. Estos años ponia acido citrico, que tenia un precio de 35 euros las 50 libras.. Pero el ultimo año, ha subido el precio a 150 euros los 25 kilos.. es practicamente prohibitibo, muy caro. Mi medidor hanna es el mejor del mercado, es este
https://www.servovendi.com/es/medidor-de-ec-directamente-desde-el-suelo-hanna-groline-soil-test-hi-98331.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwr-SSBhC9ARIsANhzu15pGabQ-MCqEloix_6m_l4ZZEIHdhR_MF8DBb7DgIp_400DJat6HcMaAraSEALw_wcB

4/15/2022 5:27:45 PM

valtierra/spain

this is for ph in soil
https://www.servovendi.com/es/medidor-tester-de-ph-para-suelos-hanna-groline-hi-9810302.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwr-SSBhC9ARIsANhzu15UFh70IAlmYLrKLsAhisyg65YJc0USpR7TI5cmsvcRRJutEiIGKUMaAvh5EALw_wcB

4/15/2022 5:30:38 PM

valtierra/spain

I start with a low pH, approximately 6.3... then 6.5, and I approach 7.0 in fattening. My soil has a high pH, this pH is that of the water. These years I put citric acid, which had a price of 35 euros for 50 pounds... But last year, the price has risen to 150 euros for 25 kilos... it is practically prohibitive, very expensive. My hanna meter is the best on the market, is this

4/15/2022 6:20:02 PM