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Colorado

I mean the EXACT same spot... The stump of my pumpkin is in the same exact spot (within a few inches) for the third straight year... and it doesn't seem to be packing on the pounds...

do I need to take a year off? Is it realistic to do this year after year and still expect to make good gians?

I only do it out of neccesity... I ain't got much space! 400 sq. feet or so...

8/20/2007 11:38:46 PM

Rhode Island

for plant health its not a good idea to plant in the same spot every year. the plants bas is a great source of stress during the growing season and is the first place disease shows up at times
next year if space is limited and you cant rotate patches try putting the base on the opposite side of the patch
( where the main ended this year for example )
pap

8/21/2007 4:10:52 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Pete And Pap, I usually do the same thing as pete as my space is limited also to 400 sf. per patch. This season I put the plant in at the opposite side, and I am having very shi...y luck. Did not even get my first female until 20 feet out on the main with a 998 Pukos seed. By that time is was only July 15th. I think I should have went with my gut instinct of useing the good old spot, and maybe A july first pollination would have been in order. On top of the bad situation, my 998 Pukos leaves burn like heck and become skeletons in the 90 plus colorado heat even with a timed mister system and wet ground with buried vines.......Maybe next season I will see different results, as I do not think this is my year here in colorado, after 13 years of growing...I will hang in there though for bigger and better things in 2008. best wishes Pap And Pete, I will see You Pete at the Colorado Weigh-offs...JK

8/21/2007 5:43:09 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Forgot to mention everything about this hobby is still all about fun, even if you still don't have the big one........Happy growing to all, and best wishes at the weigh in's, If it be heavy or light, hold em together...JK

8/21/2007 5:48:38 AM

Clinton, Iowa

I have been growing in my empty lot next door to my house since 1992..in the 'exact" spot ....I agree it isn;t the best practice but sometimes people don't have options.....
last year we grew a 1275 in one area of the patch. this year we grew a 1353 damaged in the exact same spot....stump and fruit were located with in a foot of each other from year to year...
we spend alot of time in th eoff season cleaning up plant and debris....Just throwing it out there .....It can be done...but we worry about disease all the time....
DAN

8/21/2007 6:16:33 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Im the same way at home, limited space puts the crown in the same spot for the second year. Im still searching too for that proper combination. There must be something Im missing......

8/21/2007 8:33:12 AM

Team Munson

I have the same issue and if I want to keep growing I have no options. It can be done look at Dan C. he has been growing in the same spot for 15 years, Al Eaton did the same for many years. I am in my 4th year on the same patch and have grown 7 fruit over 1,000#'s the last 2 years. I have yet to get over 1,200#'s in this patch but feel it is more to the size of my plants than disease. You have to become a student of your soil and plants, learn the issues that will arise from growing in the same spot year after year and compensate.
Dave

8/21/2007 9:16:49 AM

Monrovia, CA

We also are limited with space and have had a designated AG patch for 4 years now. One thing that I found makes a big difference is solar fumigation. I covered the whole patch with plastic for a month and a half (could actually have been longer) and have had the largest fruits growing yet (tho it be early!!) We had Mosaic Virus trouble in this very spot a few years back and I havn't seen any since I started doing this.
Autumnleaf

8/21/2007 11:56:06 AM

Ontario

Same spot for me and Bryan Dueck, 9years and counting. 2 pumpkins over 1300, 2 over 1200 pounds,4 over 1000 pounds and only a total of 3 plants per season. Worry about disease here too, but have no choice. Just keep adding back into soil every fall and no problems so far.

drew

8/21/2007 2:02:17 PM

Western NY

i had stumps in the same spot at the old place 6 years running, without disease. 2 in a row at the new place, and this year i switched them around. i think overall soil health is more important than the exact location of the stump.

8/21/2007 2:15:13 PM

[email protected]

It's a crap shoot but rotation should be the top priority if space permits. It's true that we can always put minerals back into the soil...but sometimes mother delivers a package we can't easily remove & that's when things get dicey.

8/21/2007 10:00:46 PM

Denver, CO

Pete,
I have grown from the same spot on 4 diffrent pumpkins for 3 sraight years. Each year has seen a steady progession of more leaf problems and disease. In fact, I switched this year to one new spot and its the strongest healthiest plant I have grown. Maybe its a coincidence but nonetheless, next year I will find a way to plant all 4 in a diffrent spot.
( It was good to see you at the patch tour!)

8/21/2007 10:28:39 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Yo Pete,

I think Scherber needs to plant in a differnt place next year.....How bout China.....lol

8/22/2007 8:56:14 AM