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maine USA

If you are very limited for space and must plant in the same place every year, other than carefully following advice from soil test lab, what are the best things that you can do to insure, good healthy growing plants that produce large healthy pumpkins?

8/24/2007 12:11:36 AM

Westford, MA

Move!
Just kidding. Are you near the coast?
I've been adding garbage bags of seaweed.
Sand and all. Even the salt is supposed to have some benefit, it's not like rocksalt.

There's suppose to be a lot of good organics & trace elements in it. It's like a heavy duty peat moss, Adds alot of texture, holds moisture, and it's FREE.

Have you ever listened to Paul Parent Gardening show am680 WRKO & other stations Sunday AM 5or6-10:00.
He's based "Down" your way.
Lots of good general gardening info.
I heard about the AGs when he interviewed the "Director of Pumkin weighoffs" (or something), at last years Topsfield.
I knew you all were nuts when the Director talked about pollinating. Paul asked him,"if they wear bee suits & buzz
when pollinating?"
He responded "we would if we thought it would grow a big 1."
Good Luck
kevin

8/24/2007 10:04:07 AM

Nova Scotia

If you can afford to remove a portion of your soil and replace with new stuff

8/24/2007 11:27:57 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

MR T. is bang on. I've got about 900 sq ft fot work with and try to grow 2 plants in it each year. I rotate my planting spots and dig pits and backfill every year.

Every second year or so, I remove a portion of the soil and use it to top dress my lawn and then replace it with compost and manure well tilled in. Is alot of work but you do what you have to do with only a backyard patch.

8/24/2007 2:18:12 PM

maine USA

thanks guys for the good info. Klancy I live in Lewiston Me. and I have been to the ocean every year for seaweed. My son Randalls both do this. thanks again KathyT

8/27/2007 1:15:13 PM