Re: Need some help

I am trying to prepare my garden for this year's growing season.  I added a new section for two additional plants by removing the sod and rototilling.  We have alot of clay around and was wondering what soil amendments I should add.  I have added some potting mix to loosen up the soil.  I have a source of fresh horse manure and was wondering if that would be beneficial.  I haven't tested the soil yet using a soil kit that I bought.

I also need to add some soil to raise the soil height.  I was planning on using a mix of top soil and potting mix or garden soil.  I sink about 4 to 6 inches when I walk around in the garden at this point (after rototilling (maybe I should lose some weight?).  I have heard that placing wood planks in the walkways of the garden helps lessen soil compaction.  Any thoughts on this?
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "linda" <l.hales@verizon.net>
> Hi All,
> 
> I got this email from one of our local Pumpkin Gurus...I live in So. Cal. 
> near the beach: a couple years ago I grew a 280lb pumpkin. That's pretty 
> good for the coastal zone. Anyway, check out Stuart's blog, he has step by 
> step instructions for planting...It my help...
> 
> Linda
> ________________________________________________________________________________
> __________________________
> 
> Good evening, Growers!
> 
> The fun begins!
> 
> If you're planning to transplant your giant pumpkin seedling next week, or 
> Tuesday, May 20th, the full moon for May, now is good time to start 
> germinating your seeds. If you already have, that's okay too!
> 
> If you misplaced your giant pumpkin growing secrets and instructions, or the 
> neighbor or relative that now has the seeds lost their copy already, I've 
> posted them at the website for easy reference or review: 
> www.pumpkinmania.blogspot.com
> 
> Good luck!
> Stuart
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <yorunk@comcast.net>
> To: <pumpkins@hort.net>
> Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 4:33 AM
> Subject: Re: Need some help
> 
> 
> > How big were the pots in which you started them and when did you 
> > transplant them outdoors?
> > -------------- Original message ----------------------
> > From: "J. Carroll" <carrolls@sonet.net>
> >> They will grow without light.  I remember that from the kids science
> >> projects.  But, you need to introduce them to light after having them in 
> >> the
> >> dark so long.  It should be a gradual process.  Ours never made it when 
> >> we
> >> removed them from the dark and put them in the garden right away.
> >> We put them in the floor for a while, then moved them to the top of the
> >> washer (by a window) then moved them to the shade outside, then would 
> >> inch
> >> them to sun, after almost two weeks we planted them, and they all did 
> >> well.
> >> None made it that were taken directly outside from being in the dark.
> >> This again is only from our own experiments.  I have no clue what experts
> >> say.
> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> From: <yorunk@comcast.net>
> >> To: <pumpkins@hort.net>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 5:44 AM
> >> Subject: Re: Need some help
> >>
> >>
> >> > Dave, what about light for the seeds?  How big do you let the plants 
> >> > grow
> >> > before transplanting to the garden?
> >> >
> >> > Debbie
> >> > -------------- Original message ----------------------
> >> > From: "dave perkins" <dperk15@comcast.net>
> >> >> Hey Debbie,
> >> >>     I also live in the Chicago area. In order to start seeds indoors, 
> >> >> get
> >> >> a
> >> >> cooler (like a colemans cooler). Use an empty gallon milk jug or large
> >> >> gatorade bottle (i use that). After lightly filing the seeds and 
> >> >> soaking
> >> >> for
> >> >> a few hours in water, put them in cups with seeds starting soil. Do 
> >> >> not
> >> >> use
> >> >> soil from your yard. The soil should be lightly moist. Fill the jug 
> >> >> with
> >> >> hot
> >> >> water and put everythig in the cooler. Refill with hot water in the
> >> >> morning
> >> >> and evening. I have had all 5 seeds come up this year within 2-4 days. 
> >> >> I
> >> >> am
> >> >> pretty new to this also but this works.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>                                 Dave
> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> >> From: <yorunk@comcast.net>
> >> >> To: <pumpkins@hort.net>
> >> >> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 5:48 AM
> >> >> Subject: RE: Need some help
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> > Hello.  I live in the Chicago area and need some guidance on a 
> >> >> > couple
> >> >> > of
> >> >> > things.  I figure I will plant the pumpkins in the ground around the
> >> >> > first
> >> >> > of June.  I want to start the seeds indoors, but am unsure how to do
> >> >> > it.
> >> >> > The room downstairs where I plan on starting them is very cool - 
> >> >> > about
> >> >> > 60
> >> >> > degrees.  What is the best way to keep them warm and can I start 
> >> >> > them
> >> >> > in
> >> >> > 8" pots?  Also, when should I start them?  This is my second year at
> >> >> > giant
> >> >> > pumpkins and want to have a better year than last.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I was also wondering how I can dry out my garden soil.  It is 
> >> >> > extremely
> >> >> > wet and I can barely get the rototiller in the garden.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Thanks.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Debbie
> >> >> > -------------- Original message ----------------------
> >> >> > From: "Alan Eaton" <eaton1446@rogers.com>
> >> >> >> LiAne--too much water.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Try soaking the seeds until they swell up,in 4-6 hours or so.Temp
> >> >> >> 80-90 F
> >> >> >> or
> >> >> >> so should be best.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Then the seeds have all the moisture they need to start a seedling.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Place seeds on their sides about 1/2 inch deep and tamp down the
> >> >> >> covering
> >> >> >> soil mix gently.The soil should be just slightly damp,the seeds 
> >> >> >> also
> >> >> >> need
> >> >> >> oxygen/air.You should not have to water until sometime after 
> >> >> >> seedlings
> >> >> >> appear,all depends on your ambient air conditions.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> You could treat soil and seed with a bit of fungicide,if you deem
> >> >> >> necessary.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> They should be up in about 5-7 days with the temperatures you
> >> >> >> describe.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Al Eaton--Ontario--(retired AG grower)
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> >> >> From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net]On
> >> >> >> Behalf
> >> >> >> Of LiAneBell@aol.com
> >> >> >> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 7:21 PM
> >> >> >> To: pumpkins@hort.net
> >> >> >> Subject: Need some help
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Hi,
> >> >> >> I am having some problems starting my pumpkins. I have a green 
> >> >> >> house
> >> >> >> so
> >> >> >> they
> >> >> >> are protected and warm. How long should the seeds take to 
> >> >> >> germinate?
> >> >> >> Last
> >> >> >> year
> >> >> >> I planted 15 seeds and got one plant. This year I haven't gotten 
> >> >> >> one
> >> >> >> plant
> >> >> >> in
> >> >> >> 4 weeks.
> >> >> >> I plant the seeds in a peat pot with potting soil and water them 
> >> >> >> once
> >> >> >> a
> >> >> >> day,
> >> >> >> some times twice if the pot looks and feels dry. The green house
> >> >> >> doesn't
> >> >> >> freeze but it will get down to 40 and up to 90 durring the day
> >> >> >> (depending
> >> >> >> on
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> day). The soil's pH and nutrients are in the norm for pumkins.
> >> >> >> What am I doing wrong?
> >> >> >> Thanks,
> >> >> >> LiAne
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists 
> >> >> >> on
> >> >> >> family
> >> >> >> favorites at AOL Food.
> >> >> >> (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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