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phoenix AZ

The last few years I have grown pumpkins in a small patch a 5x5 pit with the vines running over the grass. It really only has room for 1 pumpkin, but I push it with 3. This year I have recieved too many good seeds to narrow it down to 3 pumpkins, so I am going to start a patch at my fathers house, about 20 minutes east of me. He has plenty of room but lives on the side of a mountain and has incredibly rocky soil. To plant trees you have to rent a jackhammer. So I am going to build a raised bed. I am going to start next week I plan to build it 15x15 feet and a foot and a half deep, with pvc pipe for drainage underneath. I figure it will hold about 10 tons of soil. I plan to start with 3 tons of topsoil, 3 tons of mulch, 3 tons of manure, and 1 ton of course sand. I plan on adding about 120lbs of gypsum, 15 lbs of bone meal, and 10 lbs of holland giant 5-4-0 fertilizer. Anything you guys would suggest changing or adding to it?

11/20/2009 4:58:41 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Loany soil usually weighs around 85 pounds per cubic foot, dry. Sand usually weighs around 105 pounds per cubic foot. So for 15'X15'X1.5' you will need more like 14 to 15 tons of soil and sand.

11/20/2009 9:55:24 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

unicorn blood

11/20/2009 11:43:30 PM

phoenix AZ

I figured for the bottom half foot I would try to mix about half native soil, so that how I came up with 10 tons. Plus I dont want the dirt overflowing, so it will be a couple of inches below the top. so really a little over a foot.

11/21/2009 12:17:51 AM

Vancouver Washington

I wouldn't add the fertilizer until after it was tested. Depending on the manure source your NPK numbers could be elevated just from the manure. I would get it all mixed up and let it sit for a few weeks - then test it after the first of the year. Fertilizers are fast acting you can add them anytime. Sometime in the spring I would get some growth stimulants tilled in - alfalfa meal, and or kelp meal, and a bit of humic acid.

11/21/2009 1:54:01 PM

phoenix AZ

I forgot about alfalfa and kelp I will definitely get some alfalfa and kelp if i can. The alfalfa meal from a feed store is fine as long as it doesnt have salt added right? The only reason I want to get it all put in soon and add everything is because down here I set plants out around Christmas, so everything has to be ready to go by then.

11/21/2009 5:39:26 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I hope you keep a diary, it will be fun to watch your progress.

Better make your order for compost and topsoil now.

Good luck, keep us updated.

11/21/2009 5:53:55 PM