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Usa

Im new to growing giant pumpkins and wonder if someone can explain to me what a soil drench is and how is the best way to do it? Hose end sprayer or through drip lines? Also, what if you have lots of rain, wouldnt that be too much water? Thanks

7/17/2011 9:55:24 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

A soil drench is getting whatever you are applying, fertilizers, fungicides or insecticides, onto the root zone under the leaf canopy instead of applying them as a foliar (on the leaves).
Drip lines, under the leaf canopy irrigation system or hose end sprayers will all work, the hose end sprayer would probably be the least efficient, although, some fertilizers recommend spraying as a foiliar until run off.
The amount of water it takes to be "too much" really depends on your soil, and the size of the patch. I put over 500 gallons on the patch today through my irrigation system.
An easy way of telling if you need water is to reach down and grab a handful of your patch soil, if you squeeze it and it crumbles apart, go ahead and water, if it sticks together like modeling clay, you probably have enough water.
Be very careful to avoid letting your soil dry out too much, followed by adding large amopunts of water, these spikes can cause splits.

7/17/2011 5:39:57 PM

Usa

Thanks. So if my soil is sufficiently wet, and I want to apply some fertilizers, I should do it as a foliar..right?
My patch is just over 1000 sq feet.

7/17/2011 6:13:15 PM