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Nashville, TN

Since we've torn down ALL the old fencelines, and the hubby has re-arranged the entire new fenceline. We've now got yet another 1/2-3/4 acre up front - to 'recycle' livestock waste. Plan to plant that area with commercial Jack-o-lanterns - since I don't plan to spend as much time worrying about watering, etc - up in that patch (going to use the seeds I harvested from my 'rogue' pumpkin, that thrived with no watering, no pesticide, etc....)

Right now we've got 8' tall MOUNTAINS of barn/livestock waste in the '06 Pumpkin areas. The hubby's having fun pushing them around with his new Bobcat toy. so this will be PERFECT compost! They are really steaming in this cold weather! Plan to have an 6-10" layer of this compost when we spread it out in the spring.

This stuff will probably still be full of St Augustine seeds (crabgrass). I've debated on putting pre-emergence control on the pumpkin patches all next year. And I'll just start the Pumpkins in 4-6" pots, then transplant.

How large should the young pumpkins be (commercial AND GPs) before I transplant? Will the pre-emergent weed control damage their roots? When I test the soil - what nutrient/ph levels should I look for for optimal growth?

Looks like I'll have 3/4 acre of GPs & strange pumpkins - and 3/4 for commercial jack-o-lanterns!!!

12/8/2005 7:55:59 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Agp' do not like to have their roots disturbed. Most growers like to get the seedling in just as the first true leaf emerges. This allows the grower to best orientate the plant for future growth.

Soil PH is optimum from 6.5 to 6.8. Lower on highly organic soils. But many have been grown large outside of this range. Ca to Mg ratio, 7 to 1 with many hitters producing well at 3 or 4 to 1 ratio's.

12/8/2005 8:29:31 AM

Sheridan . NY

The manure can be compost in 2 months --the secret is 0xygen and food source --you have the perfect pile turner with the bobcat---first suggest that you try to keep a pile made a year a head--and the pile your working on be fed a mix of 8 ozs of molasses 8 oz and 4 ozs of SYMBEX [if you have it] to the gallon of water-- sprinkled or thrown on when you turn your pile--a couple of 5 gallon buckets is fine --turn the pile every 20 days this will keep the oxgyen going no oxgyen the pile will die--just as for me and you we need to breath----same goes for the 8-10 inch of it spread in the spring molasses--symbex --dont compace it --oxygen--the root will fly thought the soil --more info www.candjfert.com

12/8/2005 9:25:23 AM