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Somewhere in North Carolina

since pumpkins are heavy feeders, can i dig a 4ft by 5ft by 3ft pit and fill it with cow manure and add soil straw leaves and lots of fertilizers

4/29/2002 4:55:20 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Alot of growers do this and some don't. I guess it depends on your soil underneath. If you digging into clay you might just be creating a bathtub that would rot you roots. If the manure is well composted and the leaves to. I see no problem in going the extra step. providing it drains well. Take a look at langevins book on Growin World class pumpkins they have pictures of heavy hitters standing in the stump hole. Chuck

4/29/2002 5:41:09 PM

bloomington IN.

thats a great idea pumpkinidiot. I never thought of digging a wide deep hole. Thats something that i have not heard anyone speak about, and ive been on this site at least once a day for 3 months. anybody else ever try this method?4x5x3 pit?

4/30/2002 1:04:39 AM

Sloughhouse, CA

Just make sure you don't have heavy clay soil or hard pan. It you do the soil will drain a little where the good soil is and then the water won't drail for a wk. or so and everything dies. We know from experience in trying to get trees to grow.

4/30/2002 2:31:34 AM

Greencastle, PA

Bones,
I dig pits for my plants usually about a cubic yard. I had heavy clay soil, but I added lots if OM to it so it shouldn't get to bad. MD will probably have little rainfall this summer, so a little extra water shouldn't hurt, as long as it's just a little.
Tom

4/30/2002 9:27:19 PM