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New Brunswick

First of all ....what is Gypsum? (Now I am asking something really dumb.....can you use Gyprock pieces by any chance??) Is everyone laughing yet??? Also would it do any good to add 0 0 60 potash first thing when I am preparing my soil? I have a bag but was to afraid to use it on my actual growing pumpkin plants last year. I was thinking of buying a soil test kit...but after reading in here about all the things they test for....I am to lost to even start. LOL My soil is 100% horse manure in various stages of decomposition from several years old to new stuff. We have a tractor dump a years worth of manure on our gardens each spring. I broadcast on 10 10 10 fertilizer and lime each spring. Then I mix in potting soil in each planting mound and start with Miracle gro and then 20 20 20 fertilizer applied to soil around plant roots. My 2 largest pumpkins weighed 420 and 421 1/2 pounds on the same plantlast fall. Should I be doing something else to my soil?

3/21/2004 6:00:51 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Desert Storm,

Your soil preparation sounds a bit like what I used to do but with horse instead of cow manure.
This year I had a detailed soil test done and they said I don't need to use any more Potash.
For the rest of my life!
And niether will my children!!

So as far as doing something else to your soil goes I would get it tested.

3/21/2004 6:27:07 PM

[email protected]

Gypsum is Calcium Sulfate which is about 22% Calcium. Unlike Limestone, Gypsum is non-reactive. So it doesn't cause a pH change in the soil. A good link for understanding the Calcium relationship is:

http://www.spectrumanalytic.com/support/library/ff/Ca_Basics.htm

I'd start here, then google the word "Gypsum".

Spent wall board in the United States usually contains feire retardants & other nasty stuff we don't want in our soil.

Steve

3/21/2004 9:14:43 PM

Nova Scotia

hi desert storm, you realy should get a real soil test done then let the good people here help you decifer it. at the very lest have a PH. test done for it's one of the most important, for if it is off it throw's everything else off

3/22/2004 1:30:13 PM

New Brunswick

Thanks...I am going to try and find a soil test kit. I have had had good luck growing pretty much everything in a high percentage horse manure soil...even my regular garden. We had the misfortune of buying ledgy rocky ground and without the horse manure there would not even be enough loose soil to plant in. But there is always room for improvement, I would imagine. Thanks again, Sue

3/25/2004 7:29:31 AM