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Deer Park, WI

Growers-

Based on comments read on the boards this fall/winter, I've decided to begin writing a patch soil fertility guide. The goal of this project is to provide a palatable roadmap for identifying what your soil needs, what to apply to meet those needs, and how to calculate how much to apply.

Bryan Langley and I have each developed excel spreadsheets that do most if not all of what it takes to manage soil fertility effectively, however these spreadsheets leave out a critical piece- the process.

Without a guidepost of where to start, all the lab data are just a bunch of numbers soup to the untrained eye. So this is what I seek to achieve by writing the guide.

I'd like to gather more input from the crowd regarding what questions they have when it comes to patch fertility. Please respond in this thread- what do you need to know when it comes to nutrient management?

1/3/2018 12:00:17 PM

NE Arkansas

I know you can start with a base line of where you want to be but I think a lot of guys miss when (the stage of plant growth) they need to be raising different nutrients to optimize plant performance. If you read the plant wrong and over feed the wrong thing at the wrong time then you can lock up certain nutrients that are critical to plant health and performance. I think that is a big issue.

1/3/2018 1:39:45 PM

Grittyville, WA

it would help me if there was a textbook chapter on the whole topic. . . Overview- diagrams-different methods of application-the most notorious nutrient conflicts-in short, everything...need help with the info. organization/formatting/diagrams? Email me some drafts / links to all the avail. info... its a worthy project im interested in the results and in helping.

1/3/2018 3:14:46 PM

Grittyville, WA

Debacco might be good collaborator his leaf symptoms guide was good. That was mostly for disease but a symptoms guide for nutrients even with minimal info would be a valuable starting place for the conversation. Some extreme pics would be entertaining. I had some shrivelly kins that i didnt even want to take pictures of lol.

1/3/2018 3:31:05 PM

Grittyville, WA

why are some kins shrivelly whereas others are just small?Is the issue water, nutrients or to small a plant? Or the genetics?
Drunk on pumpkins. Sorry for being not entirely helpful Joe...

1/3/2018 3:47:21 PM

Grittyville, WA

i know that sounds so wrong

1/3/2018 3:53:46 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Yeah Joe. This sounds like a Grand Slam for me. This is my most difficult area in growing giants. Thanks for doing this Joe.

1/3/2018 3:55:43 PM

Cincinnati,OH

nutrient availability

1/3/2018 4:06:51 PM

Michigan,up North

i think i added 2 much P last year
my leaves had black spots on them ,,

1/3/2018 4:34:10 PM

Grittyville, WA

I can sell small ones no problem but i cant sell whole field of shrivelly-end kins. . . Thanks.

1/3/2018 4:59:35 PM

North Smithfield, RI

many Questions on micronutrients . Whats too little and whats too much ? Also the relationship between NPK, Ca and these elements . Thank you Jose

1/3/2018 7:05:05 PM

East Tennessee

How bout take a sample soil test and walk everyone thru plugging the info into the calculator.

1/3/2018 7:14:26 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Great idea, I'll send you the info during the coming season.
When and how often should we be doing a soil test and have leaves analyzed during a season? The amount and best way to make minor nutrient changes through out the season.

1/3/2018 8:43:02 PM

nowthen

Reading leaves leaves is still a shot in the dark for me
Does it need potassium ?
Overwatered?
Disease ?
Also once you find out what amendments you need preseason.
What the hell are they and where do you find them?
Application
Granular or water soluble and how to apply? Often times my solubles won't dissolve and clog sprayer.
Ratios through injector or hose end sprayer?

1/4/2018 9:01:40 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Joe I know CEC plays a big part what is needed. One guy will say he did this and that, but what is important is reading the soil test, but what is really required to different CEC levels in your soil vs someone elses

1/4/2018 10:28:59 AM

Johnston, Iowa

When you get a soil test back there are the "normal limits" for a particular nutrient. Or the quantitative level is described as Low - Adequate- High - Very High.

What I would really like is a generally agreed upon level or range for each nutrient, that is specific for giant pumpkins. Eg "pH should be between 6.5 and 7.0", or Potassium should be between X and Y.

I know that if you asked 10 growers, you might get 10 different answers, so setting forth some guidelines based on the experience of several HH's, and perhaps the folks at Western Labs would be very helpful!

Thank you Joe for doing all of this for our benefit!

1/4/2018 1:24:01 PM

Central Illinois

your question may be answered in this article with it starting on page two

http://www.ovgpg.com/documents/articles/ovgpg11-12_1.pdf

1/5/2018 9:49:52 AM

Colo Springs CO

Soil should be viewed as a living, breathing thing, so I've been told. An on line access of Teaming with microbs/ teaming with nutrients by Jeff Lowenfels for everyone might be helpful.

1/5/2018 2:08:12 PM