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This was my first year growing anything. I put seven AG seeds in the ground and watched them grow. It was SO fun! And sometimes emotional - animals, worms, slugs.
I had to cut one of my two pumpkins yesterday because the vine was full of worms. It weighed 10 pounds - woohoo! (I mean it - it is very exciting for me) My other one is twice the size and still on the vine.
So based on my huge success, you may wonder why I'm about to ask this, but here it goes...
What should I do now to prepare a new patch for next year. I want to designate an area and start from scratch. I also intend to read "How to grow..." but I won't get it until my b-day in November. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Thanks! Goat

9/21/2007 3:19:46 PM

Georgia

I get mine ready by testing the soil first. Then I add loads of organic mulch and manuer. I also add lots of worm castings. After I till the soil I also dump buckets of worms all around my patch.

9/21/2007 3:34:24 PM

Minnesota

Where do you get all the worms? a bait store, do you make your own worm castings, just curious, I'm thinking about the spring also.

9/21/2007 4:10:02 PM

Wi

Lots of places to buy castings and worms online.

9/21/2007 5:22:55 PM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

Just goggle "worm farming"

9/21/2007 5:31:09 PM

Waitakere New Zealand

get a soil test and add ferts acordingly, add plenty of organic matter and till it in, plant a green crop to protect the soil

9/22/2007 6:39:48 AM

Georgia

You can actually buy worm cocoons or worm eggs from Gardens alive and bury them every couple of feet in your soil. I also buy worms from the local bait store. Also go to the how to section of this site and you can make your own worm castings plus have plenty of bait.

9/22/2007 8:22:33 AM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Just build a big compost heap on bare earth, add a bit of manure, leave for a year and you will have more worms than you want. I would guess I get over 100 in every fork full I dig.

9/22/2007 10:14:09 AM

Modesto, CA (phil@philthegardener.com)

I have found that composting is a great way to increase my worm population. I like to use as much organic material in my garden as possible. I am new to giant pumpkin growing so I am planning now for spring by lining up compost material to use.

9/24/2007 1:00:17 PM

Colorado

The best place to start is a good soil test.
http://www.candjfert.com/pages/soilsampling.html
After you receive your test results, Craig will call and go over the results and let you know what soil amendments you need to add now to start balancing your soil...LB

9/26/2007 12:29:08 PM