From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Bessemer City N.c.

i would like all the helpful hints yall could tell me on how to grow some big pumpkins. we grew some last year about 110 pounds each and we are gonna try to do better this year. anyone got any hints on how to prepare my soil. thank you

2/23/2005 7:09:45 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

1.) Soil test.
2.) Post results here & we'll try to help.
3.) Spend way too much time reading therough the old posts while waiting for the test report.

Welcome DOGG....nice handle!

Steve

2/23/2005 10:33:17 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Bessemer City! I haven't thought of that town in ages....I'm from Concord, NC

2/24/2005 8:36:32 AM

Utah

DOGG,
Usually the best thing someone in your position can do to improve their soil is to add Organic Matter, OM, to it.
OM is typically composte, manure, leaves, peat moss, etc. It is best to add fresh manure or leaves in the fall so they have time to decompose. But you do the best you can. I know people who have added fresh manure in the early spring and have done fine.
If you are interested I can also email you a "how to grow"
paper that I have put together with a couple of other people. take care,
gordon

2/24/2005 11:02:09 AM

Itzetown City

In my beginning I got a lot of knowledges from this website.

http://www.homestead.com/henryholman/files/pumpkin_rules.html

2/24/2005 1:27:21 PM

Bessemer City N.c.

anyone have any good recipes for compost tea. any help would be appreciated.

2/26/2005 8:14:06 AM

Follansbee, Wv

My compost tea recipe is:
1 part compost to 5 parts water,
1/2 oz kelp meal per gallon,
1/2 oz fish hydrolysate per gallon,
2 cups alfalfa pellets per 5 gallons,

Mix compost, kelp and alfalfa together.
Split the compost mixture up and put it into panty hose. Hang the bags of compost inside your brewing container. Add the proper amount of water and fish. Circulate the water. (I use a heavy duty aquarium pump) When it reaches the color of a glass of tea, it's done.

You can add mollasses if you like, but be advised that if you are using a manure based compost, adding mollasses increases the risk of E. Coli and salmonella contamination.

2/26/2005 10:48:21 AM