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Suffolk, United Kingdom

Hi im new to this so I would be grateful for some advice from you.

I want to grow a pumpkin in a polytunnel in the UK.
The space within the tunnel for this project is currently 96square metres.

I realize it is far too late for preparing new beds in the current soil as its heavily clay and no organic matter, but as I don't have an option - could I use a mix of topsoil and mushroom compost?

Is there anything I could buy to help condition the soil before planting out the pumpkin in a few weeks.

We have the opportunity to raise the bed and put some heated cable in which I plan to do - we also have access to supplementary lights.

Any other considerations for using mushroom compost?

Thanks

4/15/2013 8:36:09 AM

Mushroom compost is ok for pumpkins but I would only use the commercial stuff that has been steamed. It sometimes is mixed with horse bedding and the steaming kills off seeds that may be in it. You don't want a hay field in the pumpkin patch.

4/15/2013 9:05:58 AM

Stanwood, Washington

You need to have your soil tested or anything you add to the soil will just be guesswork.

4/15/2013 12:06:36 PM

BC, Canada

I just broke up a new area of ground yesterday. It was mostly clay, which is a change since my property is almost all sand. I tilled in a huge pile of straw and compost that had been rotting over the winter. My belief with clay is to start breaking it up with some sort of organics. Sand is also a great way to loosen up the clay, so yes, I tilled in some. Use straw, hay, grass clippings, leaves, manure, peat etc. I have now found a reasonably cheap source of coco coir, a marvelous additive that I use for my nursery starts and for potting on. If you can break up the clay a bit it will allow for some drainage and begin the organic process below the surface.
My plans for this year on my clay patch is to mostly grow on top of it. A mound of hand mixed "soil" for the pumpkin "stump" and then as the vines grow I will cover them with a topsoil/compost. This will give me a plant for this year and also will be adding to next years soil quality. There will be a fall/winter cover crop and then more organics added next spring.
I think mushroom compost is great. It has a low npk rating, holds water well, mid to high 6 pH and will added to the overall soil humus as it breaks down and as I understand is not N depleting. It has been some years but in the past I have used truck loads. As Squash said, look out for weed seeds, but if you get it in now, water it the weed seeds will sprout well ahead of the pumpkin needing the space and you will be able to remove, flame or cut the weeds down before they go to seed. That is the secret weapon of controlling weeds - get them before they seed.

A soil test is good but- I am not worrying about it for my plot this year. Clay is a rich medium. Add the mushroom compost and fertilize as you choose. If you are undercover in a hoop house you should do fine and then next year- 2000lbs.! On clay just watch the drainage.
Good luck

4/15/2013 2:03:53 PM

As you said, "A soil test is good but- I am not worrying about it for my plot this year."
Sometimes all the tests do is make it too technical and just take the fun out of just growing something.
Even with tests nobody has perfect soil.
It always needs something.

4/15/2013 9:15:25 PM

Rhode Island

thats the best part of having low expectations and minimal effort. you can never be disapointed in the results.

pap

4/16/2013 7:06:11 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Squash, not saying that's the way to be, but my most fun year was my first time trying with generic hardware store seeds, germinated on the window, and had no idea about a soil test. I grew two 100 pounders and was hooked.

4/16/2013 7:38:33 AM

Smallmouth_Luke, I know what you mean.
I think the other post is about a baseball team.
I won't say which one, you already know.

4/16/2013 7:51:23 AM

And it's not the Royals.

4/16/2013 8:05:53 AM

If you want some advice and have fun growing pumpkins don't read what everyone else is reading because you will then be thinking what everyone else is thinking.

4/16/2013 9:31:15 AM

BC, Canada

CLORPT
In which of course T = time
as Pap would know.

4/16/2013 1:00:19 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Pumpkinprincess, I don't know about all of this philosophy stuff being posted but please allow me to give you some information that will actually help you have a good season.

First, the mushroom soil. I have been growing with mushroom soil since 2007. All mushroom soil is steam sterilized prior to use in the mushroom houses. You want to be using SMS- spent mushroom soil. That means it has already been used to grow mushrooms and is available at low cost because the mushroom growers need to get rid of it to grow a new crop. This is very important: the SMS needs to have set out in the open for at least 9 months or so so that the rain washes out most of the salts. Any attempt to use mushroom soil prior to having produced mushrooms or SMS that has not aged in the open will result in burning of your plants and contamination of your soil.

I don't know about the high 6 pH of the Mushroom soil cavity search is getting but the stuff I get has a high pH. Typically 7.5. This will have no negative impact on your patch for 2-3 years till the pH in the soil starts creeping up. Just something to be aware of. The mushroom house that the SMS originated from will certainly be able to tell you this value because they maintain strict control of the growth medium.

Hard clay soil- calcium in the form of Gypsum is the best way to break up clay soils. It won't move your pH up or down but it breaks up the heavy clay and adds calcium that your plants will need. I hope you have a productive and rewarding first season. Jim

4/16/2013 5:08:09 PM

cavitysearch, T = Texas, Tennessee and Thelma.

4/16/2013 6:04:07 PM

Uk .

Try to improve the soil with the following if you have availible home made compost from your compost bins etc

Add to the growing area if availible leave mold collected from local woods etc. coffee grounds from starbucks.

Try to rotovate the ground if you have use of a rotovator or tiller .. mix in perlite to the growing area to improve and aeration of the clay soil.

Check the ph of the soil you may need to add lime or calcifed seaweed to adjust the ph to approx..6.5 - 7.0ph

Keep it organic - dig or till in blood fish bone or bone meal - calcifed seedweed - seaweed meal..chicken manure pellets etc..

Do not over fertilise - a healthy plant will produce a good sized pumpkin for your first year to much nitrogen will just produce huge leaves and fill your polytunel quickly will limited growth of the fruit..

If availible locally find some unsulfered mollasses in health stores / animal feed store diluted and water into the growing area to wake up /stimulate microbes in the soil improving the soil condition and uptake of nutriants to the plant..

liquid feed the plant with diluted liquid seaweed feed.

keep it simple and have fun learning from this first year plenty of advice on the message boards and new growers forum.. grow them big...

4/17/2013 3:52:11 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Most city's have compost facility from all the yard waste, its usually the cheap way to get started. Work that in the soil. Then you'll need some sun. And good seeds. When you have a problem post it here under new grower. And don't forget its supposed to be Fun:)

4/17/2013 4:42:05 PM

Israel

Started my A.G seeds indoors a month ago and moved them outside into pre composted ground and in already 80F weather !
AND THEN 3 days of cold and wet weather came - I covered them up in a plastic cover and have peaked underneath at the already 20cm leaf spanned leaves and they have a bit of DOWNY MILDEW. So i've sprayed them with a mix of milk and soda and a drop of washing up liquid and am planning to treat them with "Seranade" organic spray. My question is: If I were to remove the infective leaves (there are only about 4 big leaves) and then start spraying with seranade (which is more a prevention remidee) will this harm my so wanted giant pumpkin possibility?

4/22/2013 5:18:29 AM