Re: wild idea on aerating soil
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: wild idea on aerating soil
- From: H* E* P*
- Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 16:51:07 -0700
- References:
I tried some similar things in the greenhouse intending to get more
air to the roots. Since I needed lots of sweetpotato vine cuttings fast,
anything was worth a try.
Method I. Bed is 5 feet wide. Consists of landscape cloth resting on
galvanized fence. 3 inches of sand, then 3/4 inch black pastic pipe
connected to water heater and pump. Five more inches of sand. The plants
dried out so fast I had to water twice per day. The water mashes plants
down. I will replace this bed when it rots out.
Method II. Black plastic on bottom and up the walls so no water can
escape. 6 inches of sand. I only had to water once or twice per week and
could apply water in one spot below leaves and water spread over entire
bed. I like this method. It produced lots of vines because of uniform
water supply. I plan to use this method in future. No water gets to
timbers to rot them and I can store supplies under the bed.
If one wanted he could try Method 2 (bathtub beds) for Pumpkin in a
garden where water is difficult to obtain. I will probably try this in
1999 with provision to get rid of surplus rain water. I have some
refrigerator bodies which when laid down have bottom, 2 sides and one
end. I will form underlying soil so that the missing end is elevated so
I trap a few inches of water, excess water overflows. This means no
waste of water and fertilizer, but I can water with exess water to flush
out salts. We have used this since 1972 for cucumbers, lettuce, beets,
etc. I save the time needed to spade the garden. Being above ground with
one end open, I get lots of aeration of roots.
Method IV. Biggest non-AG pumpkin I ever grew was in a leaf pile. You
could form a circular fence a couple feet tall. Throw your leaves and
trash into it year round. Plant a pumpkin. If desired first install a
plastic film bottom so you trap a few inches of standing water in the
bottom. Dump in a bucket of water as needed. Excess rainwater overflows
the shallow plastic bottom. We grow tomatoes this way. We got the idea
from Japan. No ground to dig, works in rocky and clay soil areas. Works
on city patio with vines on tellis, but pumpkin fruit on floor. Actually
our circular fences are 4 feet tall and we can put plastic over them to
make a temporary greenhouse, but wind can destroy the planstic.
Harold Eddleman Ph.D. Microbiologist. i*@disknet.com
Location: Palmyra IN USA; 36 kilometers west of Louisville, Kentucky
http://www.disknet.com/indiana_biolab/pk.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
