From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Hillsborough, NJ

My father-in-law and I are going to try to grow big pumpkins in NJ on our Dairy farm. We heard some where along the way that if you inject milk into the vine the pumpkins will grow bigger? Wives tale? The seeds are going to be planted where a lot of manure was spread and next to feed corn that shouldn't be a problem, should it?

3/18/2002 11:17:27 PM

Puyallup, WA

I know of no successful AG grower that uses cow's milk in any form on the patch or "in" the pumpkin.
Pumpkins love manure! However, it would be best to get your soil analyzed so you will know what to add to have a balanced soil. Your pH may be low with that much manure
in the soil for an extended time.

3/19/2002 12:25:28 AM

Western Pa.

old wive's tale that won't go away! period.

3/19/2002 9:41:28 AM

Oxford Mills, Ontario, Can

It is a myth that have been well travelled around the world a few times

3/19/2002 8:57:21 PM

Hillsborough, NJ

Thank you I could have seen myself out in the field teaching my 2yr old and 2yr old nephew to put Milk in and the two of them in years to come opening a gate to let the cows in cause it would be easier.

3/19/2002 10:22:25 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I also saw that in a "Home and Garden" how to grow hard covered book as a New England Secret....Go with what these guys tell ya...check the ph and shovel on the manure Good Luck get langevins book!!! chuck

3/20/2002 4:45:37 PM

Canton,Mass

I've seen photos of mason jars filled with milk and a wick coming out the top that went directly into a vine.I heard that some people use dry evaporated milk as a fertilizer.

5/13/2002 5:53:37 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Old Wives Tale!

5/13/2002 6:02:39 PM

Canton,Mass

I've seen photos of mason jars filled with milk and a wick coming out the top that went directly into a vine.I heard that some people use dry evaporated milk as a fertilizer.

5/13/2002 6:14:42 PM

Tacoma, WA

Some people will do ANYTHING to make a pumpkin bigger! The expert growers are telling you that they do not use milk in any form on their patch or in their pumpkins!

Stan

5/13/2002 7:57:13 PM

Western Pa.

Milk is 80-90% water, which won't hurt your pumpkins. The rest is fat, which is no good for your pumpkins, will attract all types of critters and vermin to your patch, and will end up smelling bad to boot! Why anyone in their right mind would stick a hole into a healthy plant (which leaves it open to disease and insects) is beyond me. Pumpkins LIKE Calcium, which is probably where this myth all began, so use something like Calcium Nitrate or Foli-Cal. There are still some "old-timers" who swear that injecting milk works. Can anyone out there name one of the 1000 pound + club out there who injects milk into their vines? (Didn't think so!) Please put this issue to rest, and DON"T EVEN ask Paul if feeding steroids will make a bigger pumpkin! Sorry Huff, I just felt it comin!

kilr

5/14/2002 9:18:41 AM