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Oxford, UK

I've secured a patch of rough field for pumpkins this year. I need to urgently decide if I should rotovate or not. The space is ~10 yards by 30 so good for two big plants. I've cut back the grass so its really short. I'm going to dig out a pit 4' x4' for each plant and fill with compost and rotted manure but what about after this when the plant grows bigger? Rotovator hire is about $100 equivalent so is it worth the expense for what I'll gain? A can dig by hand a bit more each week say ahead of the main vine but the whole patch is unrealistic.

5/22/2008 5:42:44 AM

Long Island,New York

At the very least I would cut real short and "roundup" the grass. Growing on grass can be a pain....it loves our fertilizers and unless you have a tightly foliaged plant it will grow. Tallish grass retains air moisture, rain moisture etc and can harbot molds, mildews and bugs. It will also keep the vines from ground contact and while the vines may root there's too much "slack" in the vine-ground contact for the roots to be a stabilizing effect in any breezes. Depending on the type of grass....tall, short etc....additional issues may arise in late summer when the grasses and seed stalks for the grasses interfere with spraying and there's no sadder feeling than knowing you have lots of good green leaves left when a windy day pushes the grass down upon the pkn leaves ending your productive season. No serious growers grow on grass unless they have to and dare I say success is capped. No semi-serious growers grow on grass in thier second year. Most who grow on grass have no choice, ruin the grass, and have a good excuse to remove the grass for next year when they see what the grass looks like in the fall...so maybe its a good plan?...lol. ust my opinion of 10 years growing in 3 different patches with multiple growing environments and experiments....ps: 10 yards x 30 (yards?)...30 x90 feet is probably good for 4 plants or so...perhaps a 2-plant sized 10yds x 20yds(30x60ft) (if you only want 2 plants) would be cheaper to till?.....G

5/22/2008 6:20:56 AM

Farmington, Utah

In my younger days I grew while on grass. Ooops, wrong grass...Either way dont grow on or while on grass.. LOL

5/22/2008 7:25:38 AM

Oxford, UK

Thanks for the responses - especially so early! I hadn't considered that no contact with the soil would hinder root growth. I'll definitely "roundup" the site to kill off what there is. Unfortunatly the price is for a days hire. Its then how much I break my back getting done...Cheers you've given me a lot to think about.

5/22/2008 7:46:25 AM

Buffalo, new York, USA

Windy:Be very,very careful if it is at all windy when using roundup if the plants are in the pits!

5/22/2008 7:25:41 PM

Rapid City, SD

820 pounds grown in patch 5 foot by 5 foot, then ran the plant out in the grass..........no problems..........no worries..........was an awesome looking plant

5/22/2008 11:23:41 PM

Long Island,New York

Growing on grass again this year Matt?

5/23/2008 7:10:13 AM

Oxford, UK

Very interesting that you had such sucess on grass. Gives me a bit more confidence that if I dig a good pit I might have a good novice year. As for the roundup no worries as plants not in yet. I applied a good dose in still conditions last night but was still careful as my regular veggies are right next door!

5/23/2008 8:58:44 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

If you are going to spray with round up, you may as was till since all the grass is going to die anyhow.

5/23/2008 9:28:39 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If you mow real short before applying Roundup, let it grow back a few days so you have some green growth to absorb the spray. Or you can spray it while it is long and then mow it off after it is good and dead in about 3 weeks.

5/23/2008 4:13:28 PM

Danville Va.

I was thinking could you put a large rug or carpet out in front of the plant,,kill off the grass then move as needed as pumpkin plant grows?

8/28/2008 4:39:20 PM