Re: Has anyone tried landscape fabric under the pumpkins?

I live in the next "town" over from Olive Branch and have grown Sugar pie pumpkins(organically) with good luck.  Since there are no local contests I have hesitated trying to grow the big ones though might try it next year for a front yard display. Getting used to growing in clay can be a challenge since it electrically binds with water and if you don't add lots of organic matter it's hard to tell whether your plants have too much or too little water.  Adding sand to aid drainage can help too.



----- Original Message ----
From: Kathie Morgan <fishrap@earthlink.net>
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 10:23:54 AM
Subject: Re: Has anyone tried landscape fabric under the pumpkins?

Steve,

I believe Brian was asking about what to place beneath his pumpkin,  
not his vine. We use weed cloth layered with sand beneath our fruits.

Kathie, growing pumpkins, cantaloupes and watermelons in sunny Santa  
Rosa, California, home of heavy hitter Ray Barenchi


On Aug 21, 2008, at 6:52 PM, Steve Haberman wrote:

> I would't use fabric. You want contact between vines and soil. The  
> vines
> will send down feeders or secondary roots that can really make a  
> difference
> with growth. The one great advantage you have is length of season down
> south. This year in Northern Indiana, we were lucky Summer landed on a
> weekend. Just curious... Do you grow any melons? I do fair with  
> them, but it
> has been a few years since we have had the heat they need. Take care!
>
>
> Steve Haberman
> Insurance Management
> 959 E 4th St.
> Marion, IN 45952
> Cell: (574) 551-5601
> Email: shaberman@insmgt.com
> Fax: (765) 664-0761
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On  
> Behalf Of
> Brian
> Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:10 AM
> To: pumpkins@hort.net
> Subject: Has anyone tried landscape fabric under the pumpkins?
>
> I've been watching the emails for some time now and have not seen  
> anyone
> speak about landscape fabric under the pumpkins.  Has anyone tried  
> it?  It
> won't catch water, keeps the weeds away.  I'm worried about bugs & rot
> getting in from underneath.  This is my first year at this fun  
> endeavor.
> Our soil in NW Mississippi has extremely high clay content.  I'm  
> originally
> from Iowa where we had good 'ole black dirt.  I'm surprised that  
> anything
> can grow in this stuff down here, but I've got 6 plants growing like  
> crazy.
> This year I'm not necessarily trying to get any one huge pumpkin.  
> I'm just
> seeing how they will grow and all that.  I planted Atlantic Giants.
>
> Anyway, I do enjoy reading all y'alls posts and appreciate knowledge  
> being
> shared!
>
> Brian
>
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