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Lindon, Utah

This is my second year growing big pumpkins. I am always struggling to keep my leaves green. I have noticed many great growers have plants with deep green leaves. I know I should have my soil tested but that will not happen until next year. Can some of you supper green growing experts help me solve my lime green leaf dilemma. I hope solving this problem will help me grow bigger.

Good luck to all,
glassford_ii@msn.com

5/5/2012 9:34:27 PM

formerly RGG

Have your soil tested.

5/5/2012 11:02:01 PM

Lindon, Utah

no soil test but plan on doing one

5/6/2012 12:44:17 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Take a soil sample and send it out. Better late then none at all. It could be a number of things. Low nitrogen, low in Iron. Potassium way out of balance.... Get a soil test and correct the problem by what they tell you to do.

5/6/2012 3:41:21 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

Last year i grew blind without a soil test. I knew it wasnt best but necessary. If you are going blind you might have to make your best guess. If i understand it correctly, you had lime green leaves last year and want darker green garden. What ammendments have you added since last year?

5/6/2012 5:56:44 AM

formerly RGG

I beat my head against the wall for years trying to raise giant fruit without a soil test and kept having mediocre results. A soil test is a must in order to know what you really need to do.

5/6/2012 7:51:05 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I wonder if someone could come up with a do it yourself soil test kit. Maybe start with some litmus paper. Hopefully that is really low cost.

5/6/2012 8:45:42 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

So many things affect Nitrogen uptake. What is your soil temp, how is your drainage, have you had several days of cloudy skys. If all these are not affecting you, sometimes a shot of magnesium sulfate, or Liquid Iron will bring the green back. I agree though you need a soil test to see what you are missing.

5/6/2012 8:52:23 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Bnot cheap is not accurate. There are several cheap testers out there that dont work. I saw at Menards Black and Decker has a new one that plugs in to your computer. Not sure how accurate it is. From past experience they are good for moisture, and sunlight testing only.

5/6/2012 8:55:35 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I had a little battery powered soil tester for awhile purchased from home depot. I really wasnt convinced of its accuracy. I do have some aquarium test supplies. These are accurate in water. I might have to ask my wife (who is a chemist) how difficult would it be to convert from testing water to soil

5/6/2012 8:59:55 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

http://www.amazon.com/EasyBloom-01-0011-Plant-Sensor-Plus/dp/B00362AQNA/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t

5/6/2012 9:04:01 AM

formerly RGG

If you want to protect your investment and do as well as possible you will have a soil test done ASAP.

5/6/2012 9:04:03 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Not recommending the above tester. Just thought it was interesting, recording sunlight, temp, humidity.

5/6/2012 9:06:19 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I think a few growers would like tester, if they could connect it to their smart phone, and monitor their plants while away

5/6/2012 9:50:00 AM

Rhode Island

if your talking about early season greening?
we experience light green plants each year, usually they go out a nice medium green and over the course of a week or so (depending on weather,etc,)they wiol lighten up.
this is normal because the young seeedling is getting used to its surounding, the night temps, the heat or cloudy days,etc.
a little calcium nitrate or any nitrogen addition ( in moderation pls )will get um greened up.

if your talking about all season pailness? you definately have some issues with your soil and need a professional soil test.if not your just guessing.

pap

5/7/2012 8:14:15 AM

Lindon, Utah

Soil test of some kind is on the plan. We added lots of organic matter fall and winter. The soil is lighter and more porous than last year. When my grass gets a little pale I add iron and that seems to darken it up. As mentioned I am just guessing until I get some kind of soil test.

Thanks for all the responses,

Best of luck to you all this summer.

5/8/2012 10:27:24 PM