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southern MN

In researching my new found hobby I came across an article on pumpkin roots and thought I would share.

A study was done in 1927 by John Weaver & William Brunder of the Univ. of Nebraska in the "Root Development of Vegetable Crops".

Their research was on sugar pumpkins but I think it would relate to AGs as well. They reported that the top 12" of topsoil was completely filled roots and that the taproot extended down six feet. The tap root contained 10 or more lateral branches that extended 5 to 17 feet out.

The second and third feet of topsoil were also thoroughly filled with roots. The fourth foot of topsoil contained many vertically descending roots.

It was also noted that the root system was vastly larger than the above ground growth and at times roots extended further than the dripline of the leaves.

3/3/2001 12:35:04 AM

Rush, NY

One year one of my AG plants was planted 25 feet from the edge of my wifes German Statice. She wanted to increase the number of plants, so in June and July I prepared an area that went out 12 feet from where I had terminated the runners. In early September when I transplanted the new German Statice to that area, there were many pumpkin roots out 12 feet to the edge of the New area which had loose soil because it had not been compacted. I do not know if these roots were from the main root or from rooting along the runners, or both.

3/3/2001 6:59:05 AM

walton n.y.

good topic last year after we took the pumpkin to weighoff i was rototilling the patch up to plant some winter rye i had tried to pull the stump of the plant and couldn't it measured a little over 7 inches so i figured the tiller would grind it up no problem it stalled an 8 hp troybuilt i got the shovel and broke it off at 9-10 inches the root was still 2 inches thick and the tiller kicked up all kinds of shallow roots from pencil size and smaller so i definitly believe that if the soil conditions are right the root system could be 2-3 times larger than the plant

3/4/2001 6:28:31 PM

Midway City, California

Randy How deep was the hole and how high was your hill where you started your plant?

3/4/2001 11:29:14 PM

walton n.y.

water,i didn't get the hole very deep before running into rocks only about14 inches so i raised the hill with 16-18 inches of well rotted manure,compost,peat moss,potting soil and vermiculite most of my sub soil is gravel so i have a leaching problem thats why i add and tell everyone to add lots of organic matter it helps retain water,gives all those micro critters something to eat besides my plant and also help hold nutrients near the root zone longer

3/5/2001 10:24:41 AM