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East Wenatchee, WA

Eastern Washington, city of Wenatchee. 85-95 degree temperatures, 10-15% humidity. Dry heat East of the Cascade Mountains.
On the average how much water should I be feeding a 500 lb. pumpkin under these weather conditions? Top soil brought in over clay base. I'm watering every three days, checking soil moisture often. I turn on three hundred feet of soaker hose and hand water a bit at the same time at dry areas and vines. Soaker runs for 1.5 hours. I'm estimating 200 gallons through the soaker 1/2", and I feed another 100 gallons by hose with a little earth juice 17-6-17. I'm averaging 20-22 pounds per day.
Is this conservative? Can I push it more?

8/3/2016 5:47:25 PM

Torrance, Ca.

This is a loaded question but I'm sure someone will chime in. I'm watering 45 gallons twice a day per 1000 sq ft and this seems just about right for my soil. I use a soil probe for checking moisture down to 15 inches every few day and check to see how moist the soil is. I'm in a greenhouse and when it gets warm the soil does dry out much faster. During these times I'm water just under 150 gallons per 1000 each day.
This is by far the most I've ever watered but I'm also not growing in clay soil like I use to. The clay soil took about half of what I'm doing now.

8/3/2016 7:05:32 PM

Central NY

Sorry I'm busy jottin down socal's answer...

8/3/2016 9:57:44 PM

Torrance, Ca.

lol Pork!

8/3/2016 10:12:27 PM

East Wenatchee, WA

Ok I'm watering roughly 800 sq feet. I found 2 soaker hoses have the pressure reducer washers, or plastic rings with small holes, and 2 do not. I drilled them out larger. So that explains some dry ares. My new calculation of water through soaker is 100 gallons? What does a 100 ft orbit 1/2 soaker hose pour out? At let's say 20-30 psi? Should I even be using this method of water? New and not very technical.....yet.

8/4/2016 5:25:52 AM

Ireland

Get your hand in the soil

8/4/2016 10:49:04 AM

Central NY

Yea.. Keep doin what yer doin pringle...most importantly keep monitoring...you should be able to see the plant taking in the water..100 gallons every other or every couple days sounds about right..I always worry about too wet than too dry...good luck!!

8/4/2016 1:30:40 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Chris, thanks for posting that. so 90 gallons a day X 7 days = 630 gallons a week. 600 gallons over 1000 sq ft Equivalent of 1" of rain, which happens to be the recommended amount by many top growers.

Thanks again.

8/6/2016 1:18:30 AM