From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Ont (jjb22hornet@hotmail.com)

On many products that you add to the soil there is a 3 part number. I was wondering what theses #'s stand for. It is set up 0-0-0 with one or more numbers greater then zero. What do these numbers stand for and what are some common numbers used to grow giant pumpkins?

10/2/2008 10:42:06 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

These numbers represent the % of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium content of the material for example a 7-7-7. A 7-7-7 and a 19-19-19 are the same fertilizer only the 7-7-7 contains more filler, thus a lower % active. A soil test will usually give you a recommendation in lbs per acre of actual Nutrients (Plant food) required to grow a crop. 100 lbs of a 19-19-19 fertilizer, delivers 19 lbs each of Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (also called N,P &K)

There is no magic fertilizer for pumpkins; in fact most of the top growers add no fertilizer at all. The best source of nutrients is well composted manure. Until your soil is built up, you may want to consider adding some commercial fertilizer to supplement any organic amendments that you may apply.

Contact me directly and I can help you with an appropriate fertilizer program.

10/2/2008 11:04:47 PM