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maine USA

Thinks that I have learned this winter on Big Pumpkins:
1. You should grow organically, no chemical fertilizers
2. It takes about 2-3 years for organic matter to become available in a form that your plant can use.
3. You should make a new patch every couple of years.
Sooo should I conclude that I should not use chemical fertilizers to grow my pumpkin for the 1st year or 2 until the organic matter kicks in. Just in time for me to abandon the patch for my new piece of ground??? MMMMM! LOL
4. You should pay closer attention to which subject, you are under.
I mistakenly posted this under Seed Exchange. Oops. LOL KathyT

1/21/2007 9:00:32 AM

ordinary,VA

5. grits are good for you!

1/21/2007 9:55:08 AM

Montoursville, PA

Kathy.........All on target here except your patch is making some natural conversions all the time. These ballances and conversions surely do increase into a better package within the soil as time goes on.

There should be no reason for you to think small or poor if you use for (1000 sq. ft.) Mycorrhiza, 20lbs. of low number organic fertilizer like 4-2-4, 20 pounds of corn meal, twenty pounds of kelp and 20 pounds of Azromite or Ironite for remineralization. If the PH is 6.5 or better you are in the excellent range up to 7.2.

We are expecting to get upwards to 1000lbs. or more food in the form, of a huge pumpkin. In order, to gain on organic content we suggest rather agressive use, of manures and other additives, to meet the exceptionaly heavy feeder the pumpkin. Few of us can do all of this in our early years while gaining experience soil building.

The further use of fish and kelp for a foliar support is minimal use of foliar within this thinking.

If you can apply all or even some of the above there is a four to six hundred pound surprise awaiting to please you, for your efforts.

The above assumes reasonable plant management is a goes with. One of my associates made an 845 and a 1019 his first year. He did start in the fall with agressive use of manures and leaves. A fourteen year old young lady broke 500 using nothing but the 4-2-4, kelp and one application of fish foliar fed early in the season. Her plant management was.........well it was a bit less than we had hoped for but it did not matter. She sold it for $400.00.

Kathy.........you are a good academic deductor. Don't let me or anyone else hold back your doing the best you can do. You should be most pleased learning with the grow as you learn the steps to make it go!

1/21/2007 9:59:55 AM

maine USA

Nooo Ed. They may have some nutritional value, but I am sure that in order for them to be of use you would need to be able to swallow them. Not happening!
Thanks a bunch as always Doc. KathyT

1/21/2007 1:32:19 PM

ordinary,VA

Kathy your in good hands with Doc he knows his stuff best of luck in 07 Kathy

1/21/2007 5:27:09 PM

maine USA

I do believe you are right Ed, good luck to you as well

1/21/2007 10:48:03 PM

maine USA

Doc I put 20 lbs. of Ironite on my patch this pst fall. I was going to send for some Azomite powder. Duplication of efforts, hope so, this will save me some money. I really feel good about my fall prep, the only thing that you suggested that I didn't do was the corn meal, which I will definitely do in the spring, as well as the molasses 2-2-2,
suggestion that you made in another thread. I also added some gypsum for calcium. thanks Kathy

1/22/2007 12:17:07 PM