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Utah

Today I started digging pits in my garden, and made a bad discovery: About 2 feet deep into the soil, it turns into this really bad roadbase type stuff that looks like pebbles mixed concrete! It is hard to dig through it and it is very heavy dirt because half of it is rocks. I wouldn't even call it dirt. The top 2 feet is okay though. I don't know what I should do because I know that the roots can travel very deep, and there's no way that they are going to be able to go more than maybe 2 and a half feet deep! I have made the decision to just dig really big pits, maybe 5 feet deep with a 5 foot radius, but how deep do the roots go? And about how wide do they travel? Also, secondary roots. How deep do they go? I'm thinking I am going to have to do a lot of work in the garden, and fast!

2/29/2008 8:31:08 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Pumpkin roots don't go deep, they're top feeders. Most of the pumpkins roots will be in the top 6 to 8 inches of soil. The problem I see coming for you is a drainage issue, when/if you get a lot of rain in a short period of time. I would keep the OM fairly low, say no more than 10%.

2/29/2008 9:09:31 PM

Adams County

PPP, you say the roots dont go to deep? is this the secondary roots that only go 6 to 8 inches deep .or is this the main stump root ?? Bill

2/29/2008 9:48:16 PM

Utah

Well that's good to hear! Are you sure though, because I've heard at least 2 feet for the main root. I sure hope so. But about the drainage, we don't get too much rain, but I am going to have to do something. The topsoil in there now isn't very good in taking in water, sometimes it will just sit in puddles on the top for a while. I am guessing I should just take out some of the topsoil and replace it with manure mixed with potting soil and some leaves. And any other organic material I can get.

2/29/2008 10:15:25 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

The roots under the stump may go a little deeper than 6-8 inches but not much. I don't recall every having one go that deep. When they come out of the stump they might go straight down for a few inches then turn to run parallel with the surface. Maybe people who put pits under their plants do have them go deeper. I don't do the pit thing, I think its a bad idea. There isn't really a "main" root. There will be several large roots going in different directions. The larger roots will get ten feet long easly, staying just a few inches below the surface. This is one reason why its important to avoid soil compaction in your patch.

GPF - when you add some OM your soil will hold/absorb more water. The reason I say I would keep your OM under 10% is that high OM%'s and poor drainage usually add up to a lot of disease. By the sound of your discription your soil has very little OM in it, once you get the test done you can figure out about how much OM you can add.

3/1/2008 12:06:22 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Build the patch UP by mounding.

3/1/2008 1:14:27 AM

maine USA

What Tremor said. Also Unless you have very dry soil, I think that it would be worth digging holes here and there to break through that solid material, to help with drainage. Good luck Kathy

3/1/2008 7:41:33 PM

Utah

Thanks for your advice. I will try to get my soil tested next week. And I am glad to hear that the roots don't go very deep!

3/1/2008 9:30:44 PM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

To help with the drainage issue, if you could run over your patck with a subsoiler or ripper drainage would be improved.

3/2/2008 8:44:51 AM