From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Lodi, California

I was just checking my soil report and I remembered that my ph was low. The ph is 6.6, and im shooting for 7.2 or so, but the problem is, I've already tilled and have sown in the covercrop. I plan on gradually tilling in the covercrop as the plant grows. What do I do now that I can't till until the plant is in the ground? Thanks!

2/19/2014 7:50:30 PM

Eugene,OR

Add what you need to add & till it in. Then replant your cover crop at about 50% rate, because some of what you have already planted will come up.

2/19/2014 10:16:57 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

6.6 ph! Just about any grower would love to have a ph of 6.6. Why in God's name would you want to raise it to 7.2 when you got it perfect already

2/19/2014 10:59:35 PM

Omaha, Ne.

I have 7.2 trade ya

2/20/2014 8:25:58 AM

Lodi, California

Thanks. Tilling is not quite an option right now. Would liquid limestone work? Would liquid limestone effect the covercrop in a bad way? Also, could you apply the limestone (granules in my case) to the soil and let it work its way down every time I water? This is a very important patch; its the first year that I have high quality proven seed, and it is also a full sized patch (last year I grew in 300 square feet) so it is very important for me to make sure that everything is perfect. Thanks!

2/20/2014 8:35:10 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Totally forget adding any Lime at all. Leave it alone.

2/20/2014 9:01:21 AM

I am completely with PumpkinBrat on this. Why is your goal to have 7.2?

2/20/2014 12:50:28 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

pg3 go to http://www.pgpga.com/article_SoilStudy.htm to see what your PH level should be for growing giant pumpkins.

2/20/2014 3:44:58 PM

Lodi, California

"updates point to a new pH average of nearly 6.9-7.0. Closer to this pH has shown bigger pumpkins." Excerpt from pgpga. Prehapse not 7.2 but about 7.0, 7.1 ish

2/20/2014 6:35:50 PM

Wi

Ahston..just because those are the averages doesnt mean its what we want.

2/20/2014 9:07:28 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Just go out and buy a couple ton of Lime and just throw it on and plow it under. It doesn't matter

2/21/2014 6:18:05 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

The moral of the whole story: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink...... As in you can try and try and try and do your hardest to help someone and they just don't want to listen. They got it all in there head that because John down the road did it and it worked so now I have to......But I heard Sally did it and she ruined everything.....

2/21/2014 6:21:33 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Don't stop there Pumpkinbrat. I heard a guy grew in secret on the Komodo Islands and produced a UOW 1900+ and had a ph of 8.5 - add 2 tons of lime.

2/21/2014 7:07:38 AM

Upa Creek, MO

He never got it weighed cause he was eaten by a Komodo dragon one evening while foliar spraying.

2/21/2014 7:09:22 AM

Lodi, California

Wasn't going to add lime. I was just pointing out my reason of belief for a higher ph. Not over 7.1, but I have noticed some large pumpkins grown in the 6.8-7.1 range.

2/21/2014 8:25:35 AM

Minnesota

I'd just do what you believe in. If you think a ph of 7.2 is ideal, get there and move on to optimizing another area that could limit growth. You'll do the best growing in an environment that you believe in.

2/21/2014 9:45:53 AM

Torrance, Ca.

I still think about that dragon daily Luke,,,,,,


What ever happened to that thing?

2/21/2014 9:54:49 AM

Rhode Island

ashton

when you ask for opinions on this site you will get the full range from no, to maybe, to yes, to i dont know,etc.

personally if you left it alone at 6.6 you would be fine but, if you wanted to add a bit of lime (allow it to wash in over the coming weeks---add 20 pounds per entire planting area.) that would be fine to.

the soil ph will drop a bit over the coarse of a season.

pap

2/21/2014 10:23:11 AM

i used to keep a list of what grown etc
but from memory
2328/ 7.1
2032 /7.5

everyone has an opinion

2/21/2014 11:04:15 AM

Santa Rosa, CA.

I like to see my ph at 7.3 in the Spring. By Fall it's down to 6.9

2/21/2014 11:17:00 AM

Torrance, Ca.

There it is Ash,,,,,,,,,,, things change as the years go by. pap is so right about the opinions, what works well for one grower, may not work so well for the other.


Learn everything you can about " Your " soil and you will grow a nice one!

Oh yea, Patchmaster will be at the meeting next weekend,,,,, he grows some monsters,,,,,, and would ask him a question or two if I were you:)

2/21/2014 3:39:44 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

In my case the pH rises over the season. My irrigation water (ditch water) is probably over 8.

2/21/2014 5:16:10 PM

Lodi, California

Thanks

2/21/2014 7:39:44 PM

Concord, CA.

Ashton,
Get the lime on/in before next Wednesday, we're executing some rain then and more on Friday. It will help wash it in.

2/21/2014 11:03:51 PM

Concord, CA.

That's "expecting", darn the auto-correct .

2/21/2014 11:05:41 PM

Lodi, California

thanks. I used about 16-18 lbs yesterday.

2/23/2014 1:20:10 AM