Re: Should I grow in pure compost?
Well, compost generally feeds the plant. The size of your pumpkin is
from the amount of water you give them, which is usually 80 percent of the
pumpkin and sugar that is stored from the leaves. I assume if you make the
plant to healthy and large it would require a lot of nutrients and water to
keep leaves and vine in tact. I assume there is a balance between all
compost and partial and I am positive growing out of straight out of compost
wouldn't be the best option. It may make for too good of a plant and could
be the reason for low seed counts with some. If a plant is strugling it
will produce many seeds so it can replicate but if it thinks it will live
forever why should it produce any seeds? Now don't get me wrong, one needs
lots of organics everywhere the root may be, but when the pumpkin is set
vines will grow and grow and grow, especially if they have plenty of compost
to store. That can mean more work triming. Perhaps some of us have gone
overboard on the compost. But I know I would rather have to much than too
little. But all compost is a bit of a waste.
Greg
GIant Pumpkin Grower
www.thepumpkinmaster.com
Fresno, California (It is very hot here only when pumpkins are growing, as
soon as they are done temps are perfect for growing!!!)
----Original Message Follows----
From: LIpumpkin@aol.com
Reply-To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Subject: Re: Should I grow in pure compost?
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 11:55:45 EST
Geoff....digging a 2 cubic foot hole ,filling it with compost,and planting a
seedling in it is better than growing in straight poor soil.Better would be
a bigger hole with more compost.Better yet,while you're putting compost in
the hole,why not add compost to all the garden and till it in?The roots are
incredible with these plants and grow out of each leaf to vine connection
-the more food you allow it to have the bigger the fruit(generally
speaking).By adding compost to the bad soil you are allowing all these other
roots to get food ....working on all 8 cylinders so to speak.And while
you're
at it,spread some winter rye seed down and let it grow over the
winter....till it in early spring and you have MORE organics in your poor
soil....making it better by adding nutrients,loosening the soil up for air
and easier root travel.It will also kill off some pests if they're tilled
up...birds will eat'm and winter cold may get them.
Finally,get a soil test done....ph test is a minimum,N-P-K and micro
nutrients readings will tell you what to do in spring........Its a game of
extremes and luck-how far(big) do you want to go?Biggest pumpkin in the
nieghborhood?County?Continent?
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