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Tennessee

Hey thought I might ask all the experts here a couple of questions. This season was the second year we've grown giant pumpkins. Last year we had about a 350lb one, the one this year was 600 even. My first question is what do you all generally grow as an all around good cover crop on your patch? Also the biggest pumpkin we had this year has some green on the skin, just wondering if you all might know what it is and how to keep it more orange next year .

9/24/2015 11:08:34 AM

Alex, IN

The best winter cover crop is a mixture of cereal rye, and hairy vetch or clover. The rye will add copious amount of organic matter to the soil and the vetch and clover fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil.

As far as some green on the fruit that is caused by genetics. If you want one to be really orange there are several growers on this site that dedicate their seasons to only growing beautiful orange fruit and hopefully they will chime in for you.

9/24/2015 11:14:34 AM

aurora, IL

Grow Gold Mustard to deal with soil diseases and insects that are in the soil after in is tilled back into the soil.

9/24/2015 9:44:56 PM