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United States

Attached is the nutrient breakdown for my soil from my local extension test center.

Based on these results, what do you suggest I add to the soil to best grow a giant?


https://imgur.com/a/dzbEXje

5/23/2023 9:11:14 PM

United States

They didn't do a nitrogen test. They said it washes out of soil/is absorbed by plants too rapidly for the test to be a useful indicator.

5/24/2023 11:28:51 AM

Syracuse, NY

I am no expert, not even a worthy opponent at a stop sign, (unless I get out - probably to RUN, lol!) but it does say in the comments 'To supply Nitrogen - do this', so if it's not too late to till in the nitrogen-supplying materials (one OR the other) that it suggests, IIIIIIIII'd do that and then only worry about the Copper which is low by .1 (optimum range is .3 -.6) and see about what the plants might exhibit if low in that element. You know ME, I'd just use 24-8-16 Miracle-Gro in my overhead watering once they are at least outgrowing their clothesbaskets I use as initial protection;

I dunno if or that I'll be using 8' X 8' floating row cover greenhouses this year, butt probably. Hence, if I do, I'd keep using my MG 10-52-10 until outgrowing the greenhouses and then switch to 24-8-16 which has Copper in it at .07%;
I dunno what that equates to butt it is a micronutrient, I believe and the MG would keep me happy about it, 2-3 times a week.

As far as a point, here? I'm not pushing for Miracle-Gro, just that your soil report is terrific in my opinion and I wish I had it, with all those levels ABOVE even the 'optimum levels'; I hope anyone else chimes in butt traffic here is probably minimal;
YOU COULD always pick on somebody that has replied to your posts before;
They may hate me for suggesting that, butt you'll get a better answer, sooner, lol!
Later, and Good Luck---eric g

5/24/2023 2:19:47 PM

Grittyville, WA

Alfalfa meal? I mean, your soil looks rather good so it might not be so easy to improve it. A little copper sulfate..? Idk, man. You can add fulvic/humic acids which would basically effectively assist with the CEC/ nutrient uptake. I'm no expert so hopefully you get a second opinion...

5/24/2023 3:25:40 PM

Syracuse, NY

Gritty, yours IS the 2nd opinion - This poor guy, lol!
At this rate, though, he'll do very well---eg

5/24/2023 4:04:18 PM

Grittyville, WA

It should be illegal to give advice if you havent grown a 2000 lber.

5/24/2023 7:57:21 PM

United States

I'm not giving advice. I'm asking for it.

5/24/2023 9:10:49 PM

Syracuse, NY

Andrej - It can be difficult sometimes to determine whom is replying to whom, especially when joking - watch out on April Fools' Day on here, lol;
I know I have to check myself several times before answering to the wrong person.

I believe Little Kins was joking in that he (maybe not) and I have never grown a 1K pumpkin yet, so neither of us should be advising you. This is not entirely 'true' in that anyone can advise anyone if they have a believable opinion that may be the right one - it is up to the recipient to decide, in the end.

Until someone that's another grower with huge pumpkins to their credit responds, then, you and I and Little Kins are all we've got, lol; Summed up, he and I (both of us, and I'd go by Little Kins'
advice more than my own, but they are equal HERE, lol) think your soil report looks great and little if any improvement is needed.

If another grower reads this and agrees with us, why would he or she bother to add in anything?
I do, however hope that happens soon, if at all - there is strength in numbers.

I wish you the best of luck and if it weren't for another grower's
(Andy Wolf's) comment about the possibility of FROST in NY last night, I'd have had probably 24 deadlings (frosted seedlings) this morning with MY OWN thinking that it was gonna be all right -
it was 35.6 *F half an hour after the lowest predicted temperature here at 6 am and yet, the evidence was everywhere = serious frost earlier.

Have a Nice Day (HAND) - (*_*) eric g

5/25/2023 7:38:29 AM

Grittyville, WA

Andre I was just chastizing myself and (to a lesser extent) pumpkinpal, not you. Hopefully I can not step on eric g's toes too badly to say "brother we are in the minor leagues here!", lol.
Anyhow, I might understand your question and be able to toss some ideas around, but I do not know everything that the other growers on here do.

5/25/2023 11:36:02 AM

Washington State

if you would like to email us a copy of your test, Joel might be able to help you

5/25/2023 2:41:49 PM

United States

This is a link to it:

https://imgur.com/a/dzbEXje

5/26/2023 5:57:44 PM

New Castle, Indiana

Looks like you might want to add in some Boron(Borax) as generally a lot of the big hitters like to see even as high as a 4 ppm for that. As for the rest, I would compare it with what the Langley Soil Estimator spreadsheet would recommend. There's no such thing as a sure thing in this business, but that tool is helpful at steering your soil in the right direction.

5/26/2023 9:10:09 PM