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New York

My plat is extremely low in nitrogen the main vine tip is only 6 inches above the ground and it only grows a couple inches a day. At the beginning of the year my soil test said I had 1 ppm of nitrogen so I have been adding calcium nitrate to every watering. This hasn’t seemed to work well so I just bought a 5 lb bag of urea and I’m wondering how much every watering (which is approximately 3 days) I would need to add to get my nitrogen up into the acceptable range? Thanks.

6/26/2018 9:36:49 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

A couple of things and I’m not busting on you just trying to help. Soil test with 1 ppm- that’s physically impossible unless you are in outer space. I suggest you call the lab about that. Vine tip only six inches above the ground- I’m not sure what to make of that. Having a tall pointy vine tip usually means too much nitrogen and lends itself to cracking very easily. The color of your leaves should be your main visual indicator of nitrogen. Are they green and healthy or are they pale?

6/26/2018 9:51:41 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

And I’d be real careful with that urea, I don’t use it so can’t suggest any tips other than be real careful.

6/26/2018 9:53:02 AM

New York

Thanks for the help my leaves do look healthy but I think they could be a little darker the main reason why I was asking this was because my plant was growing so slow and I was told it was because of nitrogen

6/26/2018 11:00:04 AM

New York

And yes the lab report did say 1 ppm I will contact the lab

6/26/2018 11:01:51 AM

Central NY

1/2 cup urea mixed into 50 gallons of water...see if that helps green u up

6/26/2018 11:22:10 AM

Grittyville, WA

I had two tests from bare overgrazed former cow pasture came in at 3 and 4 ppm nitrogen

6/26/2018 11:50:35 AM

Grittyville, WA

The area that produced best tested at 125 ppm. Use an online calculator see my post under fertilizing and watering. Its good to ask questions. And yes dont overdo it but sometimes they dont respond much to small additions because they are hogs this time of year.

6/26/2018 12:19:38 PM

New York

Thanks glen. how many ppm should I be going for I put in 25 because that’s how much the patrons had on there 2017 soil test and it said 2.5 lbs per acre of urea. What I was thinking I should water in the 2.5 lbs over the whole 1000 square feet then see what happens and use nitrogen as needed does that sound right?

6/26/2018 12:46:42 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Too much nitrogen and you will have no fruit. 2.5 lbs per acre vs 2.5lbs per 1000 sqf..Yeah they are not the same

6/26/2018 1:18:34 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

FYI there are 44,000 sqf in an acre. to convert pounds per acre to PPM multiply x .5

6/26/2018 1:22:47 PM

New York

It says 2.5lbs of urea will raise 1000 square feet up 25 ppm or 50 lbs per acre

6/26/2018 1:42:49 PM

New York

How many ppm of nitrogen should I have it said 1 on the soil test and I’ve been adding nitrogen every watering so I’m assuming the plant is taking in all the nitrogen. With that logic I should still have about 1ppm of nitrogen. The thing is I don’t know if that’s how it works?

6/26/2018 1:48:05 PM

New York

I will just start with 1/2 a cup for 50 gallons of water and go from there

6/26/2018 1:52:15 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Abomb I'm looking at your images and I like the green look of your plants. I'd be real careful with adding too much nitrogen. Your plants aren't that big yet so worrying about a ton of growth at this stage is not a great idea. Give them a little fertilizer each day...very small amounts over the next 2 weeks and then see what they look like.

6/26/2018 4:16:40 PM

Upa Creek, MO

100% agree with Jake, it's about to really take off, but you're just not there yet in size and roots. Give it a bit more time and go light.

6/26/2018 4:27:16 PM

Central NY

Yea-I didn’t look at pics...nitrogen deficiency is pretty easily remedied but you certainly don’t want to go too heavy with it...sometimes patience is the best remedy...it’s hard to fight the urge when you see so many huge plants in the diary’s...these plants grow so fast once they take off you’ll realize you aren’t that far behind ...good luck

6/26/2018 5:28:43 PM

New York

Thank you

6/26/2018 6:17:22 PM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

Testing for nitrogen is a total and complete waste of time.
It changes from day to day and even during the day.

6/26/2018 8:37:23 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Great advice Luke, Jake and others. Looks pretty good to me, and soon you’ll be amazed at the growth. Slow and steady.

6/26/2018 11:02:28 PM

Grittyville, WA

Yes water in any you wish to add. After you have a pumpkin set is a worse time to overdo the nitrogen also dont add much fertilizer before a major heat wave that will add stress. I dont think adding 25 ppm will hurt thats conservative amount so it should help more than hurt. Good job figuring out the amount...

6/27/2018 1:46:15 AM

Syracuse, NY

i would:
1. follow my own advice and if you haven't already, get a sprinkler up just past the mid-point of your plant(s), pronto, and water it with just water - your plant(s) look like mine, and that is GREAT;
2. get a 'scuffle' hoe and get rid of all the little-now weeds around your plant(s) before they get to be a nuisance, after all the watering you'll be doing; 3. work on getting your pictures to be right side up---perhaps anyone on here with a smart phone knows how to do it, or, just turn it 90 degrees @ picture time.
i just need to do the sprinkler thing, ALL DAY today---eg

6/27/2018 5:28:14 AM

Syracuse, NY

not funny about your crushed plant, but i had to laugh out loud at MYself the other day as i was killing weeds with Glyphosate around a 4 to 5-foot plant of my own in one of my Floating Row Cover greenhouses, 8' x 8': i had one end propped up and dangerously balanced on a 'propper', 2" x 3' x 6', like they use on a funny car, that normally is LOCKED in place to prevent the FRC house from dropping down and doing damage to me or my plant...windy...examining plant...wind does what wind does and moves the GH...'Boy...this is a STOCKY plant, I'll tell ye"...Thunk! - propper falls forward, directly onto the stalk of the biggest leaf on the plant..."HUH?" 2 seconds later, FRC house drops down, a car goes by. wonder if they saw that happen; i just trapped myself in my greenhouse. just 'squished stem' damage to one leaf stalk, no biggie! 4 inches to the left, woulda whacked the main vine. i laughed SO hard. ahhhh, had to be there, lol---. eg

6/27/2018 5:47:44 AM

Deer Park, WI

What is your organic matter level?

FWIW, Patons and I believe that 150-200lbs per acre of nitrogen are needed by a giant pumpkin plant throughout the season.

5% OM and greater will supply 150lbs per acre.

Usually plants need a kick start in the early season, as such, I recommend 1lb of Urea broadcast and incorporated in a 250 square foot area around the crown of the plant.

You can reference my soil fertility guide for specific instructions for managing all nutrients.

Best of luck.

6/27/2018 8:34:24 AM

Central Illinois

Foliar feed a fish fertilizer one to twice per week,that should do it

6/27/2018 8:37:00 AM

New York

Thank you everyone who replied. My organic matter level is 3%. Yesterday I decided to go for it and try watering in 8 tbs of calcium nitrate in 2 gallons of water around the base of the stump. The plant grew at least 6 inches since yesterday and all the secondary’s laid down.

6/27/2018 8:40:10 AM

New York

i will definitely raise up my nitrogen up a little but now I see that I was setting impossible goals for a plant that size. Thanks again.

6/27/2018 8:42:41 AM

Home of happy lil plants

I read that as 8lbs in. 2 Gallons and it grew 6in...

thinking I bet it did... I bettttt it did.... in the first 2hours

6/28/2018 3:01:20 PM

New York

Lol

6/28/2018 4:51:35 PM