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Decatur, IL

I'm taking the year off from pumpkin growing and just working at improving my soil for next season. I have a cover crop of buckwheat coming up and I was going to try solarizing my patch with clear plastic after I tilled the buckwheat under in order to help kill some of the soil pathogens I've been plagued with over the years(Phytophtohora and Fusarium). Would I be better off just growing another buckwheat crop before fall and skipping the solarization? I really haven't seen any information on how effective solarization is at destroying fungal spores. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Charlie

5/28/2006 11:21:58 PM

Montoursville, PA

You might lay your eyes, on a Fertrel Catalog or talk to them, on the phone. They have an organic product that is receiving great reports, in other crop uses. It works entirely, to give you the result, of solar treatment with less damage, to your good critters. They are on line.

5/28/2006 11:30:20 PM

Napa Valley, CA

Charlie, I solarized my patch a few years ago and it worked well for me. I had phyptophtohora and fusarium and eliminated them both. I shut the patch down for the year and covered it with plastic for several months........probably twice as long as necessary.

Over agressive mulching along with poor drainage caused much of my problem.

I don't know a darn thing about buckwheat........if it works........go for it !

5/29/2006 3:43:24 AM

Phoenix, AZ

I did solarization in my patch last year so did more than my share of research. It is a great way of killing pathogens. Another benefit that has been found out is that nutrients become more available. I saw nothing explaining why but just that plants grew better in solarized soil...even if they had no pathogens to begin with.

5/29/2006 9:38:35 AM

Mocksville, NC

Also, Till in a good Micorrizea like Endo plus, before you till for the last time, and water in, and then cover. Roger

5/29/2006 12:11:01 PM

Chico, Ca

Solarization worked for us...

5/30/2006 9:28:23 AM

Circleville Ohio USA

Also greatly reduced the spring weed production. Used clear plastic so the sun gets to the soil.

6/1/2006 9:40:24 AM