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California

If you use bagged compost, bagged top soil, bagged sand etc. What would be the correct combination of ingredients to get a soil mixture that can produce giant pumpkins?

much thanks,

jeff

7/4/2014 12:38:57 AM

Ontario

Is this a mixture your using in the patch or one for starting your seeds....Terry

7/4/2014 8:46:27 AM

California

In the patch.

thanks

7/4/2014 10:04:04 AM

California

Assuming no native soil is used.

7/4/2014 10:05:05 AM

Hinckley MN

If you want a 20x 30 x 1ft patch for one AG plant, With no native soil, then you need 600 cubic ft of material. How much do you want to spend? I would Find a municipal compost facility where compost is free. Find a sand/ gravel/ cement place and buy a dump truck full of sharp sand. Lastly buy compressed bales of peat moss. Mix equal parts by volume compost sand and peat. Or buy compressed bales of pro mix. Three pallets at about $1000 a pallet plus delivery but it is already to go with no mixing.

7/4/2014 5:53:45 PM

California

What type of pro mix would you recommend?

thanks

7/4/2014 7:23:49 PM

Ontario

You can make your own, for a lot less money , just a lot more work. But just how bad is your native soil?...Terry

7/5/2014 9:03:16 AM

California

We have heavy clay soil. My planting location is difficult to get a machine into to work the soil.

7/5/2014 10:22:13 AM

BC, Canada

Jeff
I saw this question posted yesterday and wondered what sort of answers you would get. As Farmer Ben pointed out you will need at least 20 cubic yards minimum of material to create a pumpkin patch. That's a lot of bags. That's a lot of $. Do you know the percentage of clay?
Why are you not considering buying a couple of truck loads of top soil and then doing some testing and adjusting with amendments/conditioners over a couple of years? Would seem cheaper and easier all around.
Soil is a mix of sand, silt and clay with organics- sort of. Clay is nutrient rich and holds water, sand isn't and doesn't. Can you put a load of sand on your clay along with a load of organics (compost- manure etc) and till deep? Eventually the organics will start to bind with the clay and create a healthy environment for microorganisms. Don't add sand to clay without lots of organics or you'll get concrete like soil. I think it would still be cheaper even if you hired someone with a tiller to do it. Adding material and tilling will raise your soil level and perhaps also help with drainage. Make sure you get a good cover crop on for the fall and winter.
Add some gypsum also, the wonder additive for clay in my mind.
Just some thoughts.

7/5/2014 11:54:47 AM

Hinckley MN

My native soil is basically acidic pottery clay. It takes time, but for each 1000 sqft I have added 2 yards of potting soil, 50 lbs of lime, and 2 yards of aged manure a year for four years. I also try to grow above the soil level. Make raised beds for the stump location. I dig trenches between plants for drainage and use that soil to bury vines without trenching.

Sunshine mix number 4 or pro mix hp (high porosity) would add internal drainage faster. Both are peat-perlite mixes. You could spread 2inches of compost over you entire patch and till it in. Then add 2inches of manure and till that in. Then add 2 inches of sand and till that in. And finally add 2 inches of pro mix over you patch and till that in. Plant a cover crop with deep rooted plants to drill down and break up the deeper clay.

If you have enough room for a giant pumpkin, you have enough room for a tiller. I have three tillers, including a mantis tiller and I trade for use of a friend's tractor mounted tiller for fall cleanup and patch prep. Be creative. You can buy quite a tiller for what you are willing to spend on bagged soil.

7/5/2014 6:31:51 PM

California

I am a rookie when it comes to growing anything. I am not trying to break any records, just trying to grow a big pumpkin(anything over 250lbs would be a home run). The past couple years I've dug a hole in the clay, 8ft diameter by 3ft deep and bought bags of potting vegetable soil/compost and expected a pumpkin to be able to grow in it. No soil analysis. After repeated failures with my plants, I am realizing a need to look closely at the soil and prepare/analyze the patch soil properly. I have room to expand the patch to 20x30 and can amend the native soil. I will look into renting a tiller or mini excavator.

I don't know the percentage of clay. Should I get a soil analysis on the clay soil I have before amending?

Thanks for the advice,

Jeff

7/5/2014 10:08:56 PM

Johnston, Iowa

I wouldn't analyze the clay. If you have the time and the desire - dig out the clay and replace with black dirt and/or the materials others have mentioned. My native soil is clay. I painstakingly dug out a 20 X 30 foot area, removed the clay, and had two dump truck loads of black dirt brought in ($150 per dump truck load). Then added extra organic material.

If interested - scroll down through my 2010 for how I did it . . .
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2010&grower=53473&action=L

7/7/2014 10:14:06 AM

Minnesota

I would dump as much compost in there as I could get and then go from there.

7/7/2014 12:39:36 PM

Colorado

Beni Meir had a good year growing in his nursery potting mix. Maybe he can tell us its formula.

7/7/2014 12:53:09 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

What do you think waZ in my bag CoJoe? ...lol

7/7/2014 3:43:08 PM