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Kutztown, PA

Does anyone use wheat straw under their pumpkin vines? Does it suppress weed growth any or just make life harder??

7/5/2022 1:30:46 PM

Grittyville, WA

I had the wheat itself sprout. Not the worst weed, but annoying. The main concern is a lot of wheat where I am is sprayed with glyphosate. It wouldnt be enough to kill your plants, but it only takes small amounts to cause deformoties... Pesticide residues are a nuisance!

7/5/2022 2:11:10 PM

Grittyville, WA

It can make a habitat for both good and bad stuff... If you can get it chopped up fine and not put it on too thick, it could be an excellent amendment. It needs a few months to begin releasing nutrients.

I think the good outweighs the bad because I think it releases minerals like silicates or something that seems to give some sort of boost which cant be gotten from chemical fertilizers alone. (Well, this depends how fancy your fertilizing is... standard chemical fertilizers dont supply anything beyond whats on the label.)

7/5/2022 2:26:37 PM

Syracuse, NY

here's sumthin:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/DisplayPhoto.asp?pid=1976

and i think this would be neat to have and to try:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2022&grower=75853&action=L

eg

7/6/2022 3:54:56 AM

Syracuse, NY

Well, skip that to hit this - same grower:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=331712

eg

7/6/2022 3:57:03 AM

Watlington, UK

I get it from here, perhaps there is a US equivalent?

https://www.easymulch.co.uk/

7/6/2022 6:22:10 AM

Grittyville, WA

I saw that stuff in your diary Gerald. I hadnt seen before... Sure seems perfectly convenient. I'm wondering if it will work to boost your plant/pumpkin. The closest thing I know of would be alfalfa pellets. Its difficult to guess which amendments would truly grow the biggest pumpkin but I will say adding anything uncomposted at this point in the season is probably going to be mostly just cosmetics. I think it takes a couple months for the best soluble components to reach the roots. I am going to add some more straw just for erosion control but I dont expect I will get any extra nutrients into the ground until mid October. Precisely too late.

7/6/2022 2:40:10 PM

Watlington, UK

It helps stop weeds but I use it mainly as a mulch to trap moisture and therefore promote rooting in the top few inches of soil.
When burying vines I notice that the vine burying mixture often dries out quite quickly because it's so exposed to air and light. The burying mixture is packed with high quality stuff and if it dries out the roots dry out with it so it's just a waste all round.
The Patons cover their nodes with plastic pots, I use this stuff, it pretty much does the same thing.

7/6/2022 3:57:46 PM