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Connecicut , No. Stonington

i just purchased some AG seed and should get them thiss weekend ... is it to late to start them ??? Also what should i put in the soil for them to grow in???

5/27/2003 8:40:13 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Joey,

Been so cold here in CT, I doubt you've missed a whole lot of growth. The commercial cucumber farmers in Deerfield Mass haven't planted any Pickling Cukes yet. Neither Pumpkins. I think you're still OK if you get going in the next week.

Soil test. If no time & the soil hasn't been limed in the past 2 or more years - then apply 35-50 lbs/ 1000 sq ft - QUICK. You may need more than that. But you almost certainly won't need less.

Add as much old rotten composted organic stuff (leaves, compost, manure, etc.) as you can get your hands on & till it in thoroughly. No fresh stuff this late though. Old black well rotted stuff only. Even Peat Moss or aged bagged manure is better than nothing.

Then add 10 lbs/1000 of 10-10-10 or 5 lbs/1000 of 19-19-19 commercial fertilizer. You can till this in too.

Check the links from this website. Henry's Hole has a neat section called "Henry's Rules". Good info.

There's another one with an annoying Pumpkin cursor that has a decent "how to grow" section. Lot's of crummy popup ads though.

The OSU website has some great fact sheets for pumpkin growing.

continued

5/27/2003 9:02:13 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Our own CT Agriculture Experiment Station website is useful for pests that have CT track records. They'll test your soil (for free I think) & give you free how to grower guides if you stop in. They're at 123 Huntington St. off Whitney Ave in New Haven. Nice people. No links from this website. Google search will link you to them or send me an email & I'll forward you a link.

This websites how-to section has some cool advanced growing tips. Do check them.

Same applies to the "featured grower transcripts". Only the most accomplished growers have been "transcribed" in the archives. Very helpful if you have the time to read them.

Last but not least is the strong & helpful contingent of fellow CT growers. They may be getting busy now. But they're a great bunch of folks who have been immensley helpful to us.

Email anytime. Have fun & best of luck!!!

Steve Jepsen in Stratford

Boy do I get wordy sometimes!

5/27/2003 9:02:40 PM