From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

What manure is the best for pumpkins? Natural or artificial?
If natural - from cows, hens or something else?

4/11/2003 12:21:47 PM

Montoursville, PA

I believe the general opinion of the folks on this board would be natural well aged or partly composted manure from cows, horses, other cattle and poultlry in that order. Fully made compost of any component mix is always the best.
...General rule of thumb would be to place fresher manures in the fall and till in to work all winter towards spring. Well aged manure lightly used in the spring. Fully made compost in any amount just about anytime it is ready to use.
.....In addition poultry manure has in it a natural control for Mycorrhizae. I use five gallons of poultry added spring and fall. This is generally good for all gardens not just the pumpkin patch. More poultry is not really better. Poultry is high N content and low humus. To me a blend might be the best of all manure programs but I have never had that idea available in any one year. I have never used a commercially made fertilizer in fifty years of gardening.

4/11/2003 12:59:17 PM

Montoursville, PA

I get carried away sometimes. I should have said I have rarely ever used a commercially non organic made fertilizer in general gardening. I have indeed purchases fish and kelp materal for much gardening.

4/11/2003 1:03:37 PM

New Brunswick

My patch consists entirely of decomposed horse manure, made just for me by our two Norwegian Fjord horses. (: Each fall we add more and also add the older stuff underneath the pile in the spring...till it in, add peatmoss, and potting soil to the immediate planting area. I also use miracle grow and this year am experimenting with different fertilizers. I know not what I am doing....does 20 20 20 worked into the ground first sound right...then using 15 30 15 miracle gro...and then more 20 20 20 or should I use 0 0 60 potash later on? I have the pumpking growing book you recommended to me but everyone does things differently and we are inland so fish and kelp are not available to me.

4/27/2003 4:50:11 PM