From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Deerfield, Michigan

First year grower here on somewhat of a limited budget. Just wondering what chemicals you would buy that are the most used? I already got Fish and Seaweed from Neptunes, Sevin, Merit 75 and Mycorrhizae. Any info would be a big help.

4/12/2012 5:53:41 AM

The North Coast

Make sure your pH is as good as it can get (pH meter from Home Depot) then you may need a high P fertilizer for early root establishment and flowering. After fruit set you will need to spoon feed it a high K fertilizer at low concentrations. Do this along with the products mentioned above. The extreme pumkin store has great products containing P(bloom builder $10) & K (liquid potassium $22). If there is any more money left, some nutrical ($17) as a foliar would be nice.

Word to the wise-Plan to get good fungicides like Bonide Infuse used along with Chlorothalonil and/or mancozeb. These products can be found at home depot or a good garden center.

Word to the kind- pull off all extra flowers so that the merit doesn't annihilate your polinators. It is very effective.

4/12/2012 7:48:17 AM

Hinckley MN

unless you are confident about you soil type and pH, get a soil test. If your ph is below 6.5 add ag lime, if it is above 7.5 add sulphur. See if your municipality has a composting facility and add 2-4 inches of compost, its usually free. Get a miraclegrow hose end feeder and liquid feed your entire plant area once a week. spectracide makes hose end incecticide sprayers for yard and garden. read and learn as much as you can this year on this site. Search for Dick's tips or posts by "pap" Wallace on this forum. Join a local club and go to their patch tour this summer and see what they do. They will also be able to answer "emergency" questions like what to do if a vine splits, etc.

4/12/2012 8:51:01 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

my suggestion to a new grower...completely ignore amelio`s advice. This is not meant as an insult amelio. For a new grower simple is better.

4/12/2012 6:40:11 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I agree with spending some for soil test. Last year was my first year and i did it blind without soil test. After the season i spent the $36 for a test. Knowing this information before growing would have been very helpful.

4/12/2012 6:42:53 PM

Minnesota

Worm castings, bat guano maybe.

4/12/2012 6:47:20 PM

South Hero, VT

http://www.extremepumpkinstore.com/media/pdf/basicfert.pdf

By all means, get a soil test done, and a leaf tissue test at pollination time if you can afford it.

4/12/2012 7:28:13 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Like many people on this site, I can's see any postings from Amelio any longer.

While he makes claims to be a soil scientist, well versed in pedology, edaphology, agronomy, microbiology, and general farming and growing practices...ALL GROWERS ESPECIALLY NEW GROWERS NEED TO KNOW THAT HE HAS NEVER GROWN AN ATLANTIC GIANT IN HIS LIFE...

Afveteran...some good real advice would be to find a local grower in your immediate area form a long lasting and trusting relationship in which you will both benefit from.

Good luck/Glenn

4/12/2012 8:39:18 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Amen Glenn! To expand a bit on the original post, did you get a soil test done? If not then you are shooting blind. If you did then all you need to do is a little research and decide what is best for you. I take an organic approach, but I will bring out the big guns if necessary.

Contact some experienced growers in your area, chances are they had the same questions as you, good luck!

4/12/2012 9:30:07 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

Soil test was done last fall with a PH of 7.1 Some leaves were added last fall and Lime some 12-12-12 fertilizer and 50lbs of Molassis this spring. My soil is clay with some sand. The soil test I got last fall was from the local co-op so it was not that informative. I have about a 7500 sq ft patch that has 3000 of it for big pumpkins. The rest will be field pumpkins. sweet corn, cantalope, and maybe a giant watermelon.

4/12/2012 10:28:55 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

I forgot that I did put down 80 lbs of Gypsum two weeks ago.

4/12/2012 10:32:58 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Don't even go without Eagle fungicide!!!! If I could only do 2 things It would be Eagle fungicide (Ebay $49.00) and spectracide insecticide(Home depot $12). Don't go without.

4/12/2012 11:34:22 PM

Belgium

that might just be a step too far amelio

4/13/2012 5:42:06 AM

Deer Park WA

afveteran,

Try to know your soil before you add a lot of chemicals. Pumpkins, like most of natures children just like balance in their lives. Keep your soil loose and moist and try to stay organic and you should do well. Best advise I ever heard was "Leave them alone".

Gads,

4/13/2012 11:10:29 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

Thanks Gads, I figure they need some attention and upkeep but no need to spray if everythings going fine.

4/14/2012 4:24:21 AM

Uk .

Try and keep it organic.
you all ready added leaves also you could of added manure at the same time.

blood fish and bone. bone meal. calcifed seaweed. seeweed meal. all benifical balanced fertilisers and micro nutriants.

Try to make some liquid feed - manure or grass steeped in a water but or use comfrey.. needs to be diluted..

or make compost tea slightly more advanced..

4/14/2012 12:07:28 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Must be the strongest "ice box" ever built...if an AG was "truly" , "not lies" was grown on top of it? Or was it a lil bitty AG? LOL Peace, Wayne
PS...I have read about experiements in 5 gallon buckets, but not on top of ice boxes!!!! Have also never read about any underpinned experiences? Say what?

4/15/2012 1:01:23 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Amelio the AG consultant... that is good. Thx for the laugh.

4/15/2012 10:07:07 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Oh I get it I sit in a race car am I a race car driver? So if you germinate a Atlantic Giant you are a giant pumpkin grower...Ahhh what do you call it when you bring one to a weigh off...A Giant Pumpkin weigher...

4/15/2012 11:39:07 AM

Piqua, Ohio

I'd rather be a pumpkin weigher, last year I had 5 not even make it to the scales, I didn't know Amelio was still posting here. Thanks to that ignore button!

4/15/2012 12:22:11 PM

Minnesota

amelio, are you going to grow the world record this year? you are so confident! with only the experience of germination to back you up.

4/15/2012 2:10:26 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Richard, get to that ignore button,,,,,,, it is your friend!

4/15/2012 2:54:33 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Amelio, No excuses...this is the year for you show something besides germinated seeds and alot of talk. You have set the standard for your first year higher than most. Considering all the time on this site, and your self-proclaimed expertise, I think that at minimum should have a 1000 lber to show the growers here. With the way you have presented yourself, that probably isnt enough to many here.

4/15/2012 5:17:13 PM

Omaha, Ne.

afveteran I also try to grow big on a small budget. Just make sure you have a good fungicide program and insect program. And an ignore program.

4/15/2012 8:08:36 PM

Rapid City, SD

4/15/2012 10:21:57 PM

Rhode Island

im with north shore. anyone who even reads amelios posts needs their head examined.he may know soil sciences but hes also quite a social outcast. im quite sure hes on this site because hes worn out his welcome on other such sites.
pap

4/16/2012 8:34:20 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Eagle 20 Fungicide is a must have in my patch.

4/16/2012 2:55:18 PM

Ray, North Dakota

I agree with the less equals more idea. Take it slow, and don't try to complicate things too much, until you gain more knowledge.

My first year, I soil tested, added what was needed, and foliar fed with fish/seaweed once a week.

Use fungicides. Sometimes the cheap ones will be good enough.

Many competitive growers, like some of the guys above, put a lot of time and money into their plants, and that is not for everyone. It can turn into an expensive hobby just like anything else. Don't take it so serious that you burn out on it, or get disappointed.

Ask questions, and do what you think is correct. And, enjoy every hour (there will be many of them) spent tending your plants. Good luck.

4/26/2012 5:11:01 PM