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Entry Date
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Nick Name
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Location
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Thursday, May 22, 2025
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IanP
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Lymington UK
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Entry 35 of 55 |
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So here's a rare leaf sample that I've done to help share my thoughts with you all.
So let's go through it and try to pick out the bones.
Nitrogen. High, it's always high in the leaf,
our plants are pigs for the stuff.
Calcium, super high and super happy with the results.
However if you take a leaf sample after the pumpkins are about the size of a beach ball the calcium will always be low and there's little that you can do about it. At this point all the calcium is transporting water to the pumpkins and the leaves don't get a look in.
Phosphate and Potassium is perfect.
Sulphur is witchcraft but okay.
Boron is bang on the money. Please just believe me, your boron needs to be between 4 and 5 ppm before you pollinate.
Forget what labs say when 1.8 to 2ppm is good. They don't understand the huge amounts of water that our pumpkins need.
Calcium is a lazy bastard and it needs boron to move it.
Water is moved by calcium.
Enough said.
Magnesium and Iron are high in the soil and leaf but are not a problem.
Molybdenum is surprisingly high in the leaf but still low in the soil. At a total guess the plants are grabbing some of the 30ml we put on every 10days.
So all good.
Finally, leaf samples should only be used to satisfy your mind that you have a problem.
It's far better to spend your money on extra soil samples.
Ron found out about the benefits of Boron so he should take the credit for this. All we have done is thrown away the recommendations and come up with between 4 and 5 ppm before pollination.
We have had 7ppm before but I wouldn't recommend it.
So I hope this is not too confusing and helps you all.
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