2005 Pumpkin Journal
Patch Preparation
September 27th, 2004
Work here actually began in late April. I knew it would be moving to a new patch beginningin 2005. I tilled and planted a cover crop of oats in late April. These were irrigated and then just before they went to seed were mowed and then tilled in. I then planted a cover crop of buckwheat which grew to about 10-12" and then killed by the frost. I now need a soil test and begin amendments with organic matter. Looking for a good source of manure. Will till in about 60 bales of alfalfa hay and add leaves and perhaps some compost to start the fall off good.
October 4th
Sent my soil tests in today. Actually trying a new lab in western Idaho. Western Laboratories Inc. They supposedly have a better turn around time (less then a week) compared to Kinsey's (about 5 weeks) who I had used previously.
October 5th
I got my soil tests back today. I could hardly believe it 2 days turn around time. While I may have impressed with the service I was not impressed with the results. Trying to figure out how to post the results here. But to make a long story short, My pH is 8.2 (up from 7.7 last fall). Organic matter is 2%. I just chopped up 110 bales of alfalfa hay. That should help bring up the organic matter. Still working on the manure. The biggest problem is the pH. How to bring it down to an acceptable level. Sulfur is about the only thing I know of but will have to do some research.
SoilTest Results
October 9th,
After some research I'm not really optomistic. The pH lime is 8.2. I have 7% free lime in my patch and my pH is 8.2. In order to put enough sulfur on the patch to neutralize the lime I would have to put on 20,000 pounds of sulfur. I'm not sure I can afford to do that at 34$ for a hundred pounds. Not sure if anything would grow in that much sulfur anyway. So in the mean time will try to get more organic matter.
pH                            8.2           Magnesium    158 ppm
ECe                            .16          Sodium           21 ppm
Lime                         7%            Zinc              .5 ppm
Organic Matter          2%            Iron                7 ppm
Phosphorus              4 ppm         Manganese      3 ppm
Potasium                98 ppm         Copper           .3 ppm
Calcium              2534 ppm         Sulfate          12 ppm
Boron                     .2 ppm
Texture    Sandy Loam
CEC                       12

Base Saturation     119%    Ideal
Calcium               106%   (65-85%)
Magnesium            11%   (10-20%)
Potassium             2.1%   (2-6%)
Sodium                  .8%    (<5%)
Hydrogen               0        (<15%)
October 20
Added 500 # 12-11-9-S-Zn-Fe, 350# Sulfur (90%), 50# potash 0-0-60, 7# Boron (14%), copper 5# (25%, Manganese 6.5# (9.8%), Zinc 10# (35%) actually screwed up on this one, forgot the general fertilizer had 3% Zn and over did it. Maganesium 26# (9.8%). Two pickups of leaves are on the patch a a couple of hundred bags of leaves have been scavaged. A neighor brought in two spreaders full of manure but I still need more.
November 7th
Finished adding leaves. 3 pickup loads that are compressed- kind of fun getting these put the kids in the back of the truck and drive up and down the streets looking for piles of leaves. Throw them in the truck and let the kids compact them down. My best guess is that each truck is equivelant to about 75 bags of leaves. Also put on 245 bags of leaves that I had stolen from the street sides.
     I had 48 yards of compost delivered from Pocatello yesterday. It took me several hours on the tractor to spread this stuff out.
    I need 110 yards of manure to cover the patch 3" deep. This should be arriving the the next week or two.
The end result should be that the soil looks nothing like what I started with.
2004 Pumpkins on Halloween
New patch 130' x 100', manure has been spread and it is ready for the winter
November 20
The last of the manure was delivered yesterday. 4 Large commercial spreaders brought their smelly gold to the patch. Not really sure how mcuh each holds but they are huge. I'm guessing close to 20 yards per truck. 80 yards of manure plus what a neighbor brought probably 5 yards makes a total of 85 yards. If the weather holds for 24 hours I will even get it plowed this fall. I think that will help it warm up and dry out in the spring so I can get on it a little sooner.  But the patch prep is now done. It will get a soil test in the spring and finish any fertilizers that might be needed. Now time to settle in for the long winter and dream about growing big orange pumpkins.