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Ct

heres the plan. using section of corn field on farm. has rye cover crop now, deep tilling won't be problem either in spring. raising seeds in house to set out in may. ground is fertilized yearly as well. just limed last year. sandy clay soil.due to distance from house can only monitor a few times a week. i will have water available if it gets dry. will spread some rotten manure on land before plowing this spring as well. have been reading these boards every few days for tips. any suggestions or questions to add to the list??? have never grown pumpkins before, but do raise and grow most other veggies.

2/11/2003 9:00:06 PM

Montoursville, PA

You can hardly get to much manure in that ground. Shoot for a PH of 7 and an eventual humis content of about 10%. You may not be able to do all this in a year. Most patches start throwing the heavier fruit when these conditions are met with good fertilization and pest management. If I had the equipment and manure I would burry a good sized load under the nursery or planting zone in addition to all the plowed and tilled in you can work in this spring.

No fresh this spring except maybe under the planting zone. The patches like to be free and clean of weeds so the number of plants needs to be considered in view of this.

Water???? Aprox fifty gals per plant per every three to five days depending on rain and other weather conditions.

Keep reading and bugging us for help. :)

2/11/2003 9:38:07 PM

Montoursville, PA

Seek and find a buddy to coach you. Your area has growers who come here. Pretty sure someone will give you a friendly welcome and additional advise who lives close to you.

2/11/2003 9:41:49 PM

Deer Park WA

Hi farmerjoe, I recommend growing only two AG's your first year out, and if you can do it close to the house in an old established garden, that way you can pour lots of water on it and keep a close eye on it too. If you can't get it close to the house you won't be able to spend the hours of time it takes to create a World Class size fruit, I have 10 acres and would love to plant them all in AG's and Squash unfortunatly these vegatibles are not you normal cropping type.

2/12/2003 12:16:59 AM

Pittsburgh, Pa. Usa

Farmerjoe either talk with someone that has experience growing AG's or get a copy of Langevins book on growing AG's. Getting an idea on shaping the plant and the care of the plant will be most helpful. If U used Attrex herbicide in that cornfield last year growing an AG there this year might be risky. Especially if Attrex was over 2 qts/acre. Good luck the agman

2/12/2003 4:01:39 PM