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Vermont

Tremor I'm in contact with chemist @ UVM,up here in Vermont about soil analysis.His question is what would I like to test for.He then can determine if he is capable of performing the test or if he would need to direct me elsewhere.Could you please advise me.
Thanks again Scoops

10/12/2006 10:32:11 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Hi Scoops,

My primary email is ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I don’t like making broad based “ideal soil” recommendations since there are so many variables.

Soil test results have almost nothing to do with the finished weight of a pumpkin.

WHAT?!?!? How can that be?

Andy Wolf & I have been collecting soil tests from Heavy Hitters (and others) for years. Andy has many more collected & saved than I do. We’ve spoken about creating a set of “standards” but we are both very concerned that some growers will start “torturing” their soils in a quest for some magical numbers that won’t really insure success.

That said I am sending you a shell that I use to report soil test data on. The uppermost row of data is a VERY ROUGH rule of thumb. It represents an AVERAGE set of data that has been weighted heavily toward growers who consistently break 1100 lbs year over year. But one such grower routinely finishes between 1000 & 1400 lbs with no significant soil changes.

Keeping this in mind, I have growers just miles from me whose soils test almost exactly the same who struggle to break 800 lbs. Personally, my own soil tests this way every year but an annual viral incident stalls the plants right before pollination every year so the best fruit are always under 500 lbs.

Call me if you have questions.

Steve

Stephen Jepsen
CT GS&PGA President

10/13/2006 10:33:49 AM

Ohio

Steve could you post the data to give others an idea? thanks

10/14/2006 1:26:27 AM

Mocksville, NC

My question is why are you useing a chemist, send your soil test to the state they have to test it or A&M labs Candifert Graig, and others, they wont ask you what, they know what! they know what you want ( a soil test)

10/14/2006 6:56:47 AM

Mocksville, NC

or tell him a general status soil report.

10/14/2006 6:58:53 AM