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Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Even with boards the soil at one of my patches is almost like rock. Water built up and didn't drain, and it happened again, and again. Was too wet to work in the patch, or to help it drain, and now that I will go into it, looks like the tap roots are not really able to break through the crust.

I think the most obvious thing to do it take a spade to all nodes while I bury and break it up. Any easier ways?

7/7/2008 10:21:42 PM

Williamsburg,KY

I would be very careful. Yesterday, I treaded into the patch. We have had good rain but hard to get into the patch. I had to move a board since it was up against one of my babies and man you should have seen the roots, they were everywhere under the board. The board was under many secondaries and inbetween every vine were small white roots. I quickly went to the barn and covered the roots with some promix, bx. So the roots are close to the top of the soil, if you ask me. I wouldnt use a spade but a hand held cultivator. There is never an easy way,you can do it Jordan dont give up be gentle. Croley Bend

7/8/2008 8:08:43 AM

southwest MO

There is likely very little air left in your soil... I would be on the watch for root and vine rot problems... As far as what you can do now? It is probably to late to go back in between the established secondarys like croley said...As packed as your soil sounds the roots are probably pretty shallow. You can however spade fork out ahead of the growing secondarys (if they are not mature and terminated).
4-6" of coarse sand worked in at least 12" deep this off season I think would help you alot. Useing a spade will become alot more enjoyable.

7/8/2008 9:47:15 AM

South East

you can take a pitchfork instead of a spade,,,and loosen it up very carefully. wouldent turn any soil though.

7/8/2008 10:03:45 AM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

I have heavy clay soil and have had these same problems in the past. I have had good luck with a garden claw. working close to and inbetween the vines. It helps a lot. If you start bringing up pumpkin roots you are likely too close.

John

7/8/2008 10:42:51 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Much of the plant is already buried and doing very well. Just the ends of the vines which still need to be buried. I was just going to loosen up the soil under each node before I bury.

I will keep a look out for roots when I start. How strong are the roots? If I get them past the hard surface crust, will they truck through the rest of the somewhat compacted dirt underneath?

7/8/2008 12:17:25 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I could see this as being a good thing and a bad thing, so lets see what everyone else thinks:

When I am preparing to loosen up the soil under the unrooted nodes I plant to bury, would it be easier if the soil was slightly damp rather than hard and dry?

7/8/2008 4:58:00 PM

San Jose [email protected]

slightly damp, the roots are pretty strong as far as penetrating. get the pitch fork and loosen things up

7/8/2008 7:42:52 PM

Columbus,ohio

try and put some worms in the soil to airate it.

7/8/2008 8:56:41 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

There are a ton of worms. I dug up a couple spots away from the plant, and once through the top half 1/2-1" it seems like roots could make it through, just not at the surface.

7/8/2008 9:19:24 PM

carefully use a pitchfork

7/8/2008 11:31:55 PM

Reed Point Montana

i have been turning over the soil around my plants with a shovel as the roots and vine grow outwards then i put compost (or any well draind soil on top of it) and it seem to be working well, no more water sitting on top of soil and root are reaching out further prompting better growth

7/9/2008 2:18:41 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I have a 10 hour day scheduled for the patches tomorrow. Gonna sneak around on boards and loosen up the soil under the node down 4-6 inches, add myco, and bury the rest of the vines.

This is soon the gravy part of the season. My 776 and 649 are basically at max size. My 1093 and 848 have filled in 80% of the total available space, and the 1066 has filled in about 65% of the total space. Once we get all of that buried, then we just sit back, spray ferts/pesticides/fungicides and measure our babies. Good times.

7/9/2008 9:26:23 AM