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New Brunswick

I forgot to mention this in my previous query.... If I spread 10 10 10 fertilizer over my patch and THEN add straw, what will happen.....? If the straw smothers the weeds...can the pumpkin vine roots still get to the fertilizer through a layer of straw?

5/26/2003 7:34:59 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Sure storm as will some weeds. Probably best to clear the vine tip area of straw so the tap roots have easy access to start in. If you plan on burying the vine you'll clear it out anyway. trench...bury and replace the straw once your past that spot.Be careful with mulch while it holds in the moisture also attracts other little critters like mice and fungus if your in a wet area might not be the best for you.
Best of luck and Grow em Big! Chuck

5/26/2003 8:10:29 AM

New Brunswick

I bet it might attract slugs too? My ground is 100% horse manure in various degrees of decomposition.....so it cannot get too much water. (I did mix potting soil and peat moss in the exact planting area.) So do I hold off on the straw...till the vines are large enough to bury? or strew it in between my two green houses, and rake it away when I take them down and reapply when vines are established? I am only going to raise two plants in that area and one in another. You mention tap roots....I read in the book that they are to be cut off to hopefully prevent stem split...do they supply feed to the plant (I thought they did...so why would one cut them as suggested in the book?)

5/26/2003 11:11:59 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Storm, The vine will produce these roots at every leaf junction. They should not be cut of and in fact encouraged! If something should happen to the "stump" these will sustain the plant. What you are probably refering to is the tendrils...these are the curly items which also appear at the leaf nodes...the roots also help secure the vine to the ground and should be supplemented with U hooks while the vine secures itself to the ground to avoid snapping of the fragile vine tips. Chuck

5/26/2003 12:15:11 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Hey Desert, I incorporated some 10-10-10 then rotottilled.
Today(in the rain) spread some additional 10-10-10 on top,
and then mulched the entire patch with shredded leaves.
The straw won't impede any tap root travel in my experience.
As Chuck suggested, I always trench a little ahead of the main and secondaries and backfill with the dirt and mulch.
This has worked pretty good for the last couple seasons, and haven't been overly bothered by insects hiding in the mulch. Duff

5/26/2003 5:15:51 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

One four letter word for you that may become a problem later in the season, If a large amount of straw is laid down. "MICE". Shannon

5/26/2003 9:59:46 PM

porterville, calif.

I use straw. No problems with mice. Weeds were down to almost nothing, mostiure was good. Hardly any wilt on Pumpkin Plants. Greg

5/27/2003 2:34:54 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Storm, Again after rereading your post. That is correct you will remove some of the tap roots around the fruit set to allow the vine to rise up with the pumpkin. Can't staple her to the ground and tell her to grow up! sorry for the confusion! Chuck

5/27/2003 5:57:25 AM

New Brunswick

Thanks all of you. I have an Akita (that just "LOVES" mice) tethered right next to the patch. We are down to one barn cat and he is 12. I think another cat or two is in order. I think I will go with the 10 10 10 and the straw then. So far I am feeding 15 30 15 Miracle gro. The main patch has not been fertilized yet. What about applying lime?

5/30/2003 12:55:03 PM