From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Dummer Twp - Ontario

I would like some clarification on this wives tale or such. I've had discussion with some people that have grown pumpkins between 200-500 pounds and stated that they feed the pumpkin through the vine - Milk! Milk has calcium and water but does it have anything else to give. I think the majortiy of AG growers will tell us that this is a no no but what the heck its winter somewhere in north america so lets here what you have to say. Thanks for your info.

1/6/2007 3:36:17 PM

Netherlands

Around 1850 a pumpkin fed on milk through a wick won first place at a local fair in Cuba, NY. Many years ago I tried it but I had no results except it stinking after a while.

I do use milk on the leaves and I know some others have tried it as well. It helps fight PM. The mix is 1 part milk (1% if possible) to 10 parts water. Start spraying in June on both the tops and the bottoms of the leaves.

1/6/2007 3:46:52 PM

i think the milk story came from tv -little house on the prairie- milk in vines would be like a steak in someones ear-to me

1/6/2007 4:42:54 PM

President - GPC

Read somewhere that this was a wives tail.......but I did spray it to reduce PM and it seemed to work well!

1/6/2007 5:23:54 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Gary is right. I believe this old wive's tale came from an astutue dairy farmer who sprayed out his spoiling surplus on the pumpkins (to make it go away) only to discover a bumper crop that fall. Not because milk helps pumpkins grow (it doesn't) but rather because it does a great job of controlling Powdery Mildew.

1/6/2007 7:22:08 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

May be the gpc or some group should send it too Myth Busters on discovery channel. Get them to grow a big pumpkin. What group would want to do this?

1/6/2007 9:42:45 PM

Montoursville, PA

Raw milk is a whole other story. To say it contained nothing that would not build the soil and grow better plants is just plain wrong. Even after processing it contains some growth support elements for the soil. There are many as we speak that demand and use raw milk believing it's unprocessed form is a much better product than processed milk for human consumption. They believe and correctly so that processing removes many qualities. More on this subject can be found in Acres magazine December 06 or January 07.

1/7/2007 10:44:59 AM

the milk story came in part from the little house books.
if really it worked you have numerous post on which type milk worked best.

1/23/2007 1:03:03 PM

Pinedale, WY

So docgipe, we have a dairy right by our house and I can get all the raw milk I want. Do you suggest I get it and pour it on my plants or my soil? If so then some more details please.

1/23/2007 8:16:52 PM