COMPOST and FERTILIZATION et al.

This year I had about 1 1/2 yds of what is referred to as "mushroom compost"
added to the clay soil patch.  I also have stepped up my foliar feeding. No,
these are not AG's Pumpkins but Prizewinner Hybrids.  All of the leaves are a
nice green and the vegetation and blossoms just keep  growing.  One fruit is
very large and orange.  Two others are yellow and still growing.  My patch is
abut 20+ by 16 ft.  I fertilized with  the high nitrogen fertilizer sprinkled
around before the plants took off.  I then changed over to a high phosphorous
when blossoms started to appear.  I foliar feed at least once a week now with
a spray of 4 gallons of Rapid-Gro. I am now using  2 tablespoons of 15-30-15
Rapid Gro with 4 teaspoons of  100% KCl.  The KCl comes in pellets and I have
to extract the salt and filter the final solution.  I gave up on AG's last
year but thought I would try 2 PWH and a couple of Cinderellas in this patch.
 I planted 2 beefsteak tomatoes at the eastern corners of the patch.
A windbreak of decorative sunflowers is at the West side of the patch.
The appearance is amazing.  Everything keeps growing and growing..  The
tomato plants are the largest I have ever grown by a substantial margin .
The sunflowers are gigantic and well over 8 ft tall.
My questions are:
How long does compost last in our western NY climate?
Is a yard and a half each season too much?
Is my fertilization adequate?  
Can I leave all of the pumpkins attached unti the plants stop growing?
The vegetation is too dense for me to even try to get to some of the plants
in the middle.
I have seen only a few spotted cucumber beetles.  But lately, I am seing
striped cuke beetles.  I have heard that they will also feed on sunflowers. I
spray with DACONIL or DIAZINON as needed. Anyone have any experience with
these striped beetles?
Although I passed up AG's because of the disastrous season last year,
I think I learned more this year.  I started the Cinderellas for some
pre -K girls in the neighborhood.  They got pumpkins but their plants are
essentially finished and the pumpkins beautiful but smaller than mine.
Maybe with my new wisom I;ll try an AG once more.  No thoughts of glory
though.  I know my limitations.
Thanks,
Paul in PERINTON,  NY near ROCHESTER
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