Do You want great big pumpkins? Of course you do! Outstanding quality garden soil is an important key to growing huge pumpkins. The soil in your pumpkin patch must be rich in fertilizer and a wide range or nutrients. For the very best pumpkins, grow them in the very best garden soil. Now, your mission, should you choose to accept it (And, you have!), is to improve the quality of the soil in your pumpkin patch.
The best time to replenish your garden soil, is in the fall. The biggest difference between amending your soil in the Fall vs. Spring, is you can add raw and un-decomposed materials in the fall. Over the long winter, these materials break down and mix into your soil, ready to feed new plants in the spring.
As soon as you’ve harvested your pumpkins, add ample amounts of leaves, compost and raw manure. Use whatever manure you can get your hands on: cow, horse, chicken. Work these supplements into your garden soil. A tiller works best, to mix materials into the soil. You can usually work materials deeper into the soil, with a shovel. By spring planting time these nutrient rich materials will have de-composed, and are ready to feed your hungry young pumpkin plants.
It is very important to check your soil ph. The ideal pumpkin plant soil pH range is 5.5 – 7.5. Over time, it may need to be adjusted. More on soil ph.
Okay, you didn’t have the time to improve the garden soil for pumpkins last Fall. Or perhaps this is your first time growing a garden. Never fear. There ar plenty of ways to improve your garden soil in the spring before you plant your pumpkin seeds. Here are some ideas:
Check the Soil pH
You can do this at any time of the year. If it is out of balance, make adjustments as needed.
More on Soil ph Levels
Add Well-Rotted Manure
Importantly, do not add raw manure to your garden soil in the Spring. It can burn the roots of your plants. Rather, use well-rotted manure only.
More on Manure for gardens
Add Decomposed Compost
Importantly, we emphasize the word “Decomposed”. Similar to raw manure, Fresh compost may have high levels of nitrogen in it, And, this can also burn the roots of the plants.
More on Composting and Compost
You can improve garden soil during the growing season However, your options are somewhat limited. You cannot mix materials into the soil, as you can disturb and break the roots that take up moisture and nutrients to the plant.
Therefore, we recommend you soil improvement to applying decomposed compost around the plant. As the decomposed compost continues to break down, it feeds your pumpkin plants. And, it helps to retain soil moisture while keeping weeds down at the same time.
