Re: Getting the patch ready for next year.
Matt
I do not have clay at my house but have worked in it for years. Do not
remove it just work with it .. it can be better then sandy soil because of the CEC
Ratio. If you can add Gypsum I mean allot of gypsum along with your organic
amendments, etc., and get it in DEEP you will be ahead of the game in just a
year or so !!
I have found roots round my aeration tubes at 4 feet deep the roots will
go as deep as you allow them by getting the right environment for them to
succeed
if you remove clay from you patch then put in a more open soil media and
you don't put in leach lines, etc., you will have real problems.. Out here in
California we line our golf course ponds with clay so the water does not leach
into the water table. So if you remove the soil you will in essence have a
swimming pool in your patch. remember if the water cannot leach through the clay
no matter what new soil you put in it will still drain only as fast as the
native soil and you may drown your roots !!!
I hope this has helped I am no ay trying to be negative I think you can
have a Wonderful patch if you just work on the "TILTH" of your soil and Balance
out your Soil "STRUCTURE" Take care and I wish you all the Luck in the world
with your 2004 Season !!! Grow Em Big !!!
Kevin Smith
Pumpkin Pirate
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pumpkin-growing archives: http://www.hort.net/lists/pumpkins/
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
