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Rhode Island

ph 6.2
organic matter 8.1%
nitrogen NO3-N 45 ppm NH4-N 2ppm
P 76ppm
K 112ppm
Ca 1271ppm
Mg 229ppm
Cation Exch Cap 13.2 meq/100g
Base saturation k 2.8 Mg 18.2 Ca 61.5
Micronutrient B Mn Zn Cu Fe all within range but at the very low end of the parameters [UMASS test]
Soluble Salts .34ds/M

Advise please Tremor/Docgipe?? Soil overall is sandy with 4 years of mucho cow poop and to a lesser degree seaweed

1/8/2004 9:57:58 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The ratios don't get much closer than this. though since the pH is lower than ideal, & pumpkins just love calcium, I'd till in 60-80 lbs of Lime per 1,000.

Those micros can be adressed with any of several good granular micronutrient products. I think Brent's going to be putting one up for sale at seedoutlet.com sometime soon.

Steve

1/8/2004 10:46:54 PM

Rhode Island

thank you steve in a previous post i read that any siol additions now will not be effective your thoughts??

1/9/2004 6:22:26 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The ground is too frozen right now. (Three degrees here right now. YUCK!) If we get a warm spell long enough to thaw the soil, then go ahead & spread the lime & till it in.

If you end up not being able to do this before spring it's not the end of the world. But in this case, I would try to avoid the lower grade white powdered Ag lime. Instead I'd find the better quality Pelletized Lime. It is very finely milled prior to being "pelleted". So fine it's like talc. Impossible to handle prior to being made into pellets. The pellets are bound tightly only until they get wet. But then it goes to work much faster than conventional ground lime.

1/9/2004 9:29:14 PM

Montoursville, PA

Better than many! Still you can make it even better without overdoing it. Even in sandy loam which is my patch I like to add a bag of gypsum each year. Supporting the good base that you have I would still toss in half a bag of organic fertilizer like 5-3-2 or even lower numbers and maybe a cup of blood in the nursery area minus two weeks to planting your seedlings. Ten pounds of corn meal added just two times this spring and next fall will help your plants be even stronger and more naturally resistant to the fungi. Keep pumping in the manures and elements of compost. Foliar feeding with kelp, fish and molasses will hand to you a dandy balanced program. Look for different manure sources such as poultry, rabbit, goat and so forth. A little of this and that is always a boost to what your are already doing. "Stuff" becomes important...stuff like coffee grounds or a smattering of feathers, hair or what have you only enhances the total. Relax and enjoy adding your finds through your compost pile.

1/9/2004 9:39:22 PM

Montoursville, PA

Oops......missed one good thing you should do...add ten pounds of Ironite, New Jersey Greenland or other trace mineral additive to that patch this Spring and again next fall ahead of placing your cover crop. I use Ironite and will continue rotating or blending it with another product of similar nature.

1/9/2004 9:45:36 PM

Rhode Island

Thank you both for your help i appreciate your input peter

1/10/2004 8:11:05 AM

Millersburg, Ohio

i live in central ohio, amish country, and am just starting out ...my first year to order, prepare plot and plant seeds for a giant pumpkin.
what is best resource for soil preparation, buying seeds, and tending to the plant?
any and all help will be greatly appreciated. thanks.

2/23/2004 5:25:05 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Woodie, this is the best site for finding any info you need. Use the site search to access any thing you need, chances are the question your asking has already been answered. If you can't find it on there, than ask the many great people on this site. They are more than willing to help out. Seeds can also be found on this site for the cost of shipping and handling. I hope this helps, take care and good luck.

Phil

2/23/2004 8:15:40 PM