From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Utah

Has anyone ever grown a pumpkin over a septic system or have any thought as to how this might work. I have a sight prepared else where in the yard but was thinking of trying one over a septic leach bed may provide my pumpkin with some additional nutrients. Any thoughts?

12/18/2007 7:18:51 PM

Liberal Ks.

beee real carful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/18/2007 7:49:21 PM

van isle b.c. canada

hi i,ve been doing it for a long time. wouldn,t recomend it unless it,s all the space you have. craig

12/18/2007 7:52:00 PM

Western NY

If it's getting "additional nutrients", that would mean that the roots are in contact with the effluent, meaning no oxygen in the root zone. not the best situation to grow anything in.

12/18/2007 7:56:58 PM

Dorval,Quebec

I have one plot with a septic system drainage bed underneath.Couldn't set a fruit for two years then had a splitter this year.Don't have to water very often.Leaves, vines look good at least,LOL.

12/18/2007 7:57:09 PM

Farmerville, Louisiana

DON'T eat the pumpkin and i mean DON'T

12/18/2007 8:18:19 PM

Massillon, Ohio

for us it was either grow over the septic or dont grow at our house. we opted for not growing at our house (so that's how i feel about it). but then again we are lucky to have unlimited ground 1 mile away to use.

12/18/2007 8:19:54 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

Most of my patch is located above my leach beds.
last year I grew my 608 there and notice no ill effects.

In order for them to put a leach bed there in the first place it has to pass a perc test so the soil in that area should drain well.

I've often thought adding air to the tank might create an aerobic tea to feed them with. I do use a product that is supposed to aid in the breakdown of organic matter in the tank using beneficial bacterias.
I think a similar product which is commonly found on supermarket shelves is call rid-X??

12/18/2007 8:23:17 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

Also, the grass in that area grows more lush, and dense than anywhere else on the property

12/18/2007 8:25:57 PM

Western NY

rid-x is a waste of money, and can screw up your septic system in the long run. they key to longevity is to have the tank pumped out every few years.

12/18/2007 8:31:37 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

So if your growing over your septic beds, you can use the beneficials to help maintain as an aerobic environment as possible for the root zone above, and still have your septic pumped very few years.

12/18/2007 8:38:40 PM

Western NY

Only way that might work is if you had an aerator after the tank, and before (or in) the distribution box. The problem is that with the concentration of bacteria you'll find there, the biological oxygen demand is insanely high.

12/18/2007 8:41:09 PM

Pemberton, BC

I tried it 2 years ago and I tell ya, it was the shits.

12/18/2007 9:32:53 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

I dont recommend driving over a septic tank with a tractor I did it once well not even once really tractor broke through lid and back left tyre made a big hole and believe me the smell took a long time to go away.

12/19/2007 12:06:44 AM

Minnesota

I think that's a Crappy idea

12/19/2007 12:12:39 PM

Colorado

back in the day-herman bax grew the world record 990 on his leech field

12/19/2007 8:00:04 PM

Utah

Thanks for the comments. My thought were that it would just burn up the plant or that the leach bed was down to far for the roots to really penetrate. I will stick to my planned sight. My wife isn't to keen on ripping up the yard just yet. She already thinks I have lost my mind.

12/20/2007 10:24:47 AM

(rocky) Bonney Lake Wa.

I might add that our sertic system is about 3=4 feet down and I have grown over half of it and had no problems. My daughters pumpkin was 1016. I might also add that ourt garden is a raised garden and that the planting soil is approximately 1'-2' thick and I will be growing over the rest of the system this coming year. Also are system is new and has over 500 feet of drain area.

12/20/2007 8:35:06 PM

Indiana

Our tank went 22 years before it was pumped. Just watched what we put down there to protect the natural process going on.

12/20/2007 10:37:12 PM