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NE Kansas

Look under the plants from last year that grew the largest pumpkins. They are full of weeds. Some growers are not doing something that the rest of us are....

6/11/2013 12:14:07 AM

NE Kansas

It makes sense now. Cover cropping does not end when the pumpkin is planted. I always pulled weeds so that they would not out compete my vegetables. But what weed is going to out compete a 1600 lb pumpkin growing on a 600 lb vine?

Once the pumpkin sets fruit, let the weeds (aka. cover crop) grow. They will begin to pull nutrients to the surface from deep in the soil, fix their own nutrients derived from above the surface back into the soil, and then when you do pull them (just before setting seed) they will compost quickly into the soil surface with immediate availability.

The entire 'cover crop' cycle can easily be completed in the time from fruit set to harvest.

6/11/2013 1:01:17 AM

NE Kansas

If you are not weeding, then you are also not compacting or disturbing the soil.

6/11/2013 1:05:59 AM

Rhode Island

we always weeded and or did sprays for weeds up to sept . once sept rolled around we just let the weeds grow because the fruit at this point has slowed some so by the time weeds get established again? the season will be over.

we do feel weeds compete toward nutrient drainage from the soil. early on its best to keep them in check

weeds can also help spread disease.

6/11/2013 5:39:44 AM

Upa Creek, MO

There are 2 schools of thought from what I remember on here; some weed to prevent nutrient depletion, and some don't to not disturb the soil. I myself don't mind a few in the bare areas the plant has yet to fill, they hold the soil in place and help it from compacting when you get tons of rain like we have had this year.

Oh, and then there is the new keep cover crop till the plant moves to that area, but I took mine out in March due to severe lack of motivation.

6/11/2013 7:40:39 AM

NE Kansas

Which weeds are ones that would build the soil then?

6/11/2013 8:06:16 AM

NE Kansas

Is it just simply Sept then? Or do you decide to let them go based on the measured growth rate?

I have always keep my garden picked very clean of weeds. But I have many other very successful gardening methods that are not considered 'conventional', so I am just trying to think outside of the normal here.

6/11/2013 8:50:27 AM

Springfield, VT

If you get bored of weeding you can look to http://www.eattheweeds.com/ and take care of them this way

6/11/2013 11:51:32 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Burn dem weedZ....

6/11/2013 12:33:33 PM

NE Kansas

I have no objections with weeding, even with doing a lot of it. What I was looking for was something that the big growers are doing that makes a difference in size. I spent a good deal of time studying photos and the weeds were something that I noticed and was making conjecture about (probably a bit too late in the day) whether it might actually benefit the pumpkins growth.

I now know the reason behind it with Pap's answer.

6/11/2013 12:40:32 PM

Rapid City, SD

learned many years ago how to garden with very little weeds......i have not pull a weed in 10 years

6/12/2013 12:13:10 AM

Nottingham, UK

please share Matt-man

6/12/2013 7:02:05 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

How long ago did you meet Lisa Matt?

6/12/2013 7:31:40 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Lol linus

6/12/2013 7:39:15 AM