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market-farming - Re: Fw: [Market-farming] Pumpkin Patch (fwd)

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  • From: Matt Cheselka <cheselka AT theriver.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: Fw: [Market-farming] Pumpkin Patch (fwd)
  • Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 07:13:47 -0700 (MST)


Kevin, again my email to you bounced, even though I see you tried another
address. Strange. Anyhow, I'm sending this again to the MF list instead.

See below....

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 07:07:45 -0700 (MST)
From: Matt Cheselka <cheselka AT theriver.com>
To: Kevin Ancell <kancell AT goodearthgardens.com>
Subject: Re: Fw: [Market-farming] Pumpkin Patch (fwd)


Thanks, Kevin.

It seems to me that it's very likely that I may be too late this year to
be serious about getting seeds into the ground over the next coupla weeks
and having a successful harvest. However, I'm not ready to totally give
up yet. I think the biggest unknown at this point is the fertility of the
soil. Several years ago (I'm not sure how many, but more than 2 and less
than 10) a pumpkin patch was grown on this same land. Apparently they did
very well. I have no idea what they did in terms of preparation,
cultivation, or whatever, but apparently it was a success.

So the groud has been sitting there for at least 2 years and probably
more. Weeds are everywhere and there are many kinds, which tells me that
there still might be some good fertility. However, even if I were to find
5,000 - 10,000 lbs of 5 year old composted chicken manure, spreading it
out now and then planting in a coupla weeks doesn't sound like a good idea
(or is it??).

So perhaps maybe what I should do is take a soil test to see what I'm
working with, and plan on doing it right next year if the soil is
depleted. However, if the soil test comes back and says that the soil is
of good quality, I think at that point I'd still like to give it a go this
year. What do you think?

Just FYI, I've grown pumpkins and other squash before, but on a very
small, garden scale. With just a few plants, I've never had any of the
bug problems you've described. So what makes a huge patch more enticing
to bugs than a very small patch? Is it just the fact that there's more
stuff for the bugs to eat, so they're happier and reproduce more? I'd
like to understand this.

Thanks again,

Matt Cheselka
Cosmic Lettuce






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