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Poulsbo, WA

As most of the Heavy Hitters are well.... "heavier" OK not all but lets face it, this advice is derived from males who weigh more than some of us lighter weight ladies .... so, my question is.... as long as our husbands know better than to step into the patch.... how necessary are boards to prevent soil compaction? I weigh 110 on a bad day.

5/8/2008 8:36:32 PM

Pennsylvania

You should probobly still use the boards(I'm not implying that you're fat or anything, lol). You should put boards there because when you walk on them it distributes the weight evenly, but they are mostly there so you know where you should walk so that there is minimum soil compaction. It isn't a necessity, but I recommend you get a couple boards out of the shed for your patch.

5/8/2008 8:55:35 PM

Poulsbo, WA

Ok.... another thought was, then if any soil compaction is negative.... what about creating some cylindrical cement posts no more than 6 in. round that are sunk deep into the soil and yet rise above the soil 4 inches or so... allowing you to place your boards on each one therefore not compacting the soil at all.... also absorbing the heat of the sun throughout the day and radiating into the ground at night? Note: An idea that my husband who is relegated to the side of the patch came up with.

5/8/2008 10:01:18 PM

canal winchester ohio

Just take a old pair of shoes & some boards & make pumpkin snowshoes. You won't have boards all over your patch, and you won't have the problem of falling off the boards.

5/8/2008 10:19:41 PM

southwest MO

Dont forget your feet are probably smaller so you have similar pounds per sq. inch compaction pressure...
I think the posts are a good idea, if you have the time to do all that. If you use cement (depending on how many you put in) paint them with epoxy or something similar that is inert when complete.

5/8/2008 10:26:11 PM

Poulsbo, WA

Huffs... Ive seen that done by the Wallaces, but I'd find that cumbersome... I'd probably catch a vine and rip it up as I picked up my foot. I have small feet and its really nice to be able to navigate the vines that way.... and my balance is not an issue. Now hubby is thinking of maybe a hoist system over the patch that will allow me to be suspended in mid-air as I work.... he's a thinker!

5/8/2008 10:32:32 PM

Ohio

Lil, I lay two concreate blocks on the sides of my patch and then lay the board up on the two blocks, there is no compaction. This will save ya alot of time and work from sinking a few posts.

5/8/2008 11:29:37 PM

Colorado Springs.Co

Lil Mac, I like your husbands sense of humor, thats hysterical.

5/9/2008 12:29:03 AM

Poulsbo, WA

Brooks... that does allow more flexibility based on where the vines lie, will probably go that route.... and Shaker.... It is hysterical.... and I'd bet money that someone is going to do it someday!

5/9/2008 12:52:13 AM

Napa Valley, CA

Lil'Mac..... the thought of you working on your patch, suspended in mid-air by a hoist system is hysterical.
Then I got this immage in my mind of Eddy or the Biz gliding over their patch, suspended by a cable, while they were doing their pollinating........ I laughed so hard that the beer that I was drinking started running out of my nose.

5/9/2008 1:35:56 AM

Rhode Island

i like to use pogo sticks (two of them one strapped to each leg).
they airate the soil as well as prevent soil compaction.

5/9/2008 5:38:23 AM

Westford, MA

I heard a pair of wings, a Black & Yellow striped sweat shirt, and making a BuZZing noise while floating from female to female, works well.
kevin

5/9/2008 9:29:32 AM

Ohio

Bahahahaha!! @ Pogo sticks, I can visualize you doing that in my mind Pap , that is some funny shizit!!,,lol!!!!!

5/9/2008 10:16:53 AM

Westford, MA

Wish I'd used boards last year,I had some hard pack areas you could roll a marble down.
This year I've screwed 4x4 blocks to the bottom of the ends of a few 1x6x8' that way I can lift and move them if I have to and only crush a couple 8"x10" foot prints.

Alot fluffier than last year!

5/9/2008 10:21:36 AM

Bristol,RI,USA.

I use bear paw snow shoes they work great!! use kid size and it is not hard to move around at all

5/9/2008 4:22:58 PM

Bristol,RI,USA.

and they go great with my speedo !!! lol

5/9/2008 4:24:09 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I've got a pair of lightweight aluminum framed snow shoes. I may give them a try. The kind some people run snowshoe races in. They have a serrated metal plate for traction, that could aerate the soil some.
If you use boards in the patch, you can get by with just two, by moving them along as you go. Just be careful when you set/drop them down...they could scrape the pumpkin or damage the vines....I learned this by experience LOL.

5/9/2008 10:57:54 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Klancy, I used to use blocks. Probably less compaction with just boards though. If you put all your weight on a small area (8"x10") you will get more compaction than say 10'x8".

Stepping on an 8x10 block is probably similar to stepping in the dirt...but with boards across 2 blocks, you are just stepping alot less.

5/10/2008 12:51:51 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Lil Mac, the cement posts, could cause a bit of a prblm this fall or next spring when tillin time comes around!!! Peace, Wayne

5/10/2008 9:53:24 PM