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San Diego

I have never used compost before and this year I will use it and need some general advice. I have a 100sq ft area, the rest of the patch will be grass. I will be getting my soil tested, putting in around a half a yard of manure this fall(maybe a little more), and planting a cover crop of winter rye. In the spring, I want to add my compost. How much should I put in my 100 sq ft area? If some one could tell me in sq ft, that would be great. the bags I buy will be 1.5 sq ft of compost per bad. Thanks, Jim

10/2/2002 4:21:54 PM

San Diego

oops, I think I meant to say cubic foot bags, not square foot.

10/2/2002 4:45:56 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

hey jim,100sqft is small.i put in another yard of manure and 2yds of compost.are you going till it in? i would.in the spring,i would put in another 2yds of compost.get the soil tested first,then add.

bill k

10/2/2002 4:59:20 PM

Tacoma, WA

Didn't Steve Deletas's 1230 pounder cover about 100 sq.ft.?

10/2/2002 5:32:24 PM

Key West, FL

lol probably!!

10/2/2002 5:33:48 PM

Western Pa.

Jim, if you are serious,(and you sound like you are), you need at least 500 square feet per plant.(And I stress LEAST!). Add as many chopped leaves and as much manure as you can get in the Fall. Then, get your soil test in early Spring. Forget about the bags, make your own compost and find a source for free manure. Your gonna need one heck of a lot in the near future!

kilr

10/3/2002 12:48:52 AM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

If you decide not to grow pumpkins in the future then you can replant the grass. But for now get rid of some grass and increase the size of the patch.

10/3/2002 8:23:53 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Jim8, It's tough growing in a small patch with vines this aggressive. Believe me I've tried it in 225 aquare feet by August It's up and over the entire fence and ends up ten feet past. This year I tried growig only one side in a flag style and the results were the same...I think cutting back the plant that mch early only delays the fruit set and by the time the plant is large enough we get into way to hot of days, Try and give yourself as much space as you can. I know Smallpatch grows them in 100 sq ft but it's tough. Believe me any compost and fert you add now will only make the plant that much more AGgressive! Grow em Big Buddy! Chuck

10/3/2002 9:20:37 AM

San Diego

hey,thanks for the info. Since I am growing on my front lawn, the entire size of the patch is around 600 sq ft, the pumpkin plant will be planted in a rectangle of dirt that is 100 sq ft. So really I won't have a lot of dirt, but hopefully enough for decent roots so the plant can grow everywhere else. This year, I only had 20sq ft of dirt around the base of the plant and grass everywhere else. I managed a pb for my second year growing a 337 lb estimated nice looking pumpkin and it looks heavy, we will see. So I fugure 100 sq ft is paradise for me:)Just want to do the best I can with what I got. Thanks, Jim

10/3/2002 2:39:59 PM

Tacoma, WA

Jim,
Just sell your house and move to the country! An acre or two will do just fine!<g>

Stan

10/3/2002 4:13:15 PM

Western Pa.

I knew an old farmer who planted corn right up to and around the house! No more lawn to mow!

10/4/2002 1:03:56 AM

Montoursville, PA

Check the local horse center. They often have manure to give away. "Burry" three to six 5gal bucketsfull as a motherload about eight inches under your plant site. Do that this fall. Just don't let the weed seed manure up on top. Stand back!!! You could be the first grower shafted by his own mainvine. Always face the approaching vine and don't lean over to pick a weed. }:o)

10/4/2002 11:06:07 AM

Montoursville, PA

Oops.............fair warning. Put lids on the buckets or seriously double bag fresh manure in your car of van. Fresh anything is full of goodies that will become compost over winter but the closer it is to the horses butt the ranker it smells. Automobile upholstry seems to attract and hold the odor.

10/4/2002 11:12:48 AM