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Location

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Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I rented a skid steer to move some compost back into my pumpkin patch. I tried to drive it into the patch, and it sunk down into the soil and I almost had to have it towed out. I'm assuming most patches are soft as well. How do vehicles I've seen lifting pumpkins out of the patch maneuver back there? What did I miss?

Thanks,

Matt

4/2/2004 12:44:23 AM

Indiana

lol

4/2/2004 12:47:21 AM

Indiana

Matt,
Its probably due to the excess moisture and or loose soil you have. In the fall stuff is compacted enough that you wont sink in as bad.

Tom

4/2/2004 12:48:24 AM

Sequim, WA

I put the tractor in 4 wheel drive and leave the truck outside the patch. Before I had use of a tractor it was minimum of 8 foot drive to the them out.

4/2/2004 1:07:52 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

No problems with my horse. Goliat can walk even in a marsh!

4/2/2004 1:44:26 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Good soil I guess.
BTW, my pumpkins even move on their own. I roll them off the roof and catch them in a hail net… of course I have to buy a new net every time. Jernej

4/2/2004 3:07:08 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Too Funny Matt!!!Might need to get some compaction boards down now. Grow em Big. Chuck

4/2/2004 6:24:12 AM

Manchester, NH

I remember a few years ago when my brother was filling a area in my fathers yard to expand his patch for "GREEN ONES" and he got stuck and the suction from the mud he couldn't get out on his own. My truck couldn't pull him out!!! I had to call a coworker over tie his truck off to a tree and winch him out!!

4/2/2004 8:14:29 AM

Nova Scotia

JMattW when the ground freezes there is usally a lot of moister in the ground and as that freezes it basicly seperates all the soil particals. then when it unfreezes those loosened up particals become saturated with water bassically making quik sand or quick mud. i've seen a school bus sink past it's front bumber on a hard dirt road in the spring from the frost leaving the ground. but as the particals of dirt settle back down (when most of the moister leaves) you'll have no problems unless you have perfect soft soil.

4/2/2004 8:35:13 AM

Deer Park WA

LOL! I try to stay off the soil until the 2nd week of April to avoid compacting our wet soil. I buried a rental back hoe in back by our pond last year doing the same thing!

4/2/2004 9:39:43 AM

Massillon, Ohio

hmm loading pumpkins 2003....the friday night before weighoff was cold, rainy, wet, and not fun due to being stuck in the mud. then it got dark. LOL.

so it makes me wonder who has NOT been been stuck in the mud doing pumpkin related things...

4/2/2004 3:26:11 PM

Key West, FL

use sheets of plywood.

4/2/2004 5:19:49 PM

Key West, FL

oh ya and.... hahahahaha

4/2/2004 5:20:04 PM

San Luis Obispo Ca

Good luck next time!

4/2/2004 5:22:45 PM