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Dillsburg, PA

I no that mounds help to increase warmth in the early season but will it also cause the plant to heat up too much in the late summer. I did mounds last year and my plants wilted in the hot sun. I live in Maryland and we were in drout and had a lot of 90 degree days. The wilting probably could have been caused by several other things like clay. This year I built a pit 4X3 and planned on mounding on top about 10 to 12 inches. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Jeff

4/22/2003 7:12:02 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Is my feeling that all the soil which is going to be cover by the pumpkin plant should be the same, in quality, fertility, texture and level. We use mounds and rise beds here a lot, but only for fall, winter and spring crops, never for summer ones, like tomatoes, peepers, aubergines, melons, cucumbers, zucchini or watermelons. Actually, if we made them for early plantations, later will desappear. Soil usually gets too warm and dry on mounds.

Don

4/22/2003 2:09:48 PM

[email protected]

I've never mounded pumpkins. And like Don, don't think it's wise. The limited rainfall we recieve will naturally try to run off a mound. But many growers do this. I suppose it depends on the drainage of the patch to some extent.

Steve

4/22/2003 5:15:56 PM

Utah

if you have a few days of back to back heavy rain your
patch can be flooded... it's nice to have an island where
your stump can be dry.

4/22/2003 5:18:13 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Planting "hills" are very common for pumpkins. It doesn't have to be a high hill but rather a mound. Check out the Langevin Books.......

I think that heat build up in the hill would be negligible and would not adversly affect growth. (providing the plant gets sufficient water.) I know a lot of growers that use black plastic early in the season to assist in heat buildup. I left my plastic on throughout the growing season.

As for the daytime wilting - check out Scott Armstrong's misting article in the How-to section.

4/22/2003 7:51:17 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I need all the heat I can get here,the soil around the stump and first few feet of main has roots growing in it for quite a bit longer than around the edges,the way I look at it is if there is more soil in this area the root system there will be bigger.

4/23/2003 6:09:09 AM

Dillsburg, PA

Thanks for the suggestions, at this point I will add some dirt to the root so that water can run off. I have lots of clay and a pit so I do not want water to settle at the root.

4/23/2003 7:00:20 AM