Re: Pumpkin Growers/Virginia

Kathy,
            Now is the time to prep your soil.  If your ph is higher than 7.0
will need to add sulfur.  If lower than 6.5 you will need to add lime.  Having
the right ph allows for the maximum uptake of nutrients.  This is real
important when working with pumpkins.  Also you should try and find a source
of cow and/or horse manure wherever you can.  Nothing beats this old fashioned
fertilizer as far as nutrients are concerned.  I think I mentioned before fish
emulsion and seaweed extract are also used by many growers as a
nutrient/fertilizer source.  
     As far as misting goes, you will have to build your own system.  Here is
what I intend to do this year.  I am using an old sump pump which feeds an 1
1/2 line out to the garden.  It then reduces to 3/4 inch size fittings that I
can use to connect a regular lawn hose sized  fitting to.  From here I reduce
it to 1/4 inch black tubing made by better homes and gardens.  They make
misters which can cover a six diameter per head.  I will place six of these
around the patch to cover my two plants.  The key here is to find a lawn and
garden center in your area that carries all of the pipe, tubing and fittings
you will need to make such a system.  I have tried to keep mine simple but
effective.
      As far as shading, I am still trying to find some ginseng cloth or
something like it that reduces but does not eliminate all of the suns light on
the plants.  This is just a hunch I have but I believe I need to recreate the
Southern canadian climateand conditions in Indiana in order to have great
success.  We will see.  Remember I am only a second year grower not a
veteran!!!

Do you have the book by Don Langevin yet ? if not why not?

Good luck and stay in touch,

Brad Walters
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