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Upa Creek, MO

Ok, time for the rookie question of the month. I guess this question is more for people who have limited space and cannot rotate where their patch is like myself.

Each year when you add amendments like manure and compost in mass quantities, will this eventually cause that area to be lifted higher and higher in subsequent years? Or, does the fruit and plant itself drain the soil so much of nutrients that build up or eventual mounding is at a minimum? Do some of you growers who have been doing this for years in the same spot have to remove nutrient drained soil at times to bring in compost, manure etc..?

Thanks,

Luke

10/15/2010 11:12:36 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

Im a rookie to Luke. This question is important to me since I have limited space. I do believe in adding a small amount of manure at the end of every seasom thats after you analize your soil test. Everything has to be balanced to get max benafits. A friend of mine plants in the same spot every year and he grows them big. He also gets manure added to the patch every year and composts it for 2 years before adding it to the patch.

10/15/2010 12:21:37 PM

Ohio

Luke,
After a soil test you would be totally surprised just how much nutrients leaches out of your soil that you have added at the beginning of the season, or what the plants absorbs after the growing season is over.

Everything I add in to my soil at the beginning of the season like ( N,P,K ) always drops by seasons end. (some nutrients will deplete alot more then others nutrients will)

One good example is soil PH , after lime is added beginning of the season according to my soil tests, Im usually around 7.0 - 7.3 PH , then by mid to end of season my soils PH always drops way down to around 5.7 to 6.3 PH.
And same goes for my organic matter, it will show a depletion also.

Even though I have been growing for a while Im not ashamed to always ask a grower who I know that knows ALOT more then I do about soil. Every year I ask some one's opinion on what I should add or not to add.

Here is some very good growers who I have asked their opinions about my soil tests in the past who have helped me out tremdndously in understanding balancing soil,,, Larry Checkon, Quinn, Ron Wallace, The Cooks (Tina and Frank) Finders, Matt DeBacco, and Chris Stevens, but I wouldn't ask Chris this time of year espically with all he has going on,,lol,, plus you would have a hard time getting a hold of him this time of year anyway during hunting season ,because he deer hunts just like he grows pumpkins, LOL

10/15/2010 5:40:12 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Thanks Brooks. I am going to get the soil tested as soon as we move into the new home this winter. My main concern was if my patch was going to be 5 feet off the ground years down the road because of adding truck loads of manure etc...

I'll be around all winter and post questions then once everything is settled down.

10/15/2010 6:08:24 PM

Upa Creek, MO

And thanks too Kenny!

10/15/2010 6:33:10 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

No problem, just remember to get a soil test.

10/15/2010 7:31:49 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Luke, I grow in the same spot each year just under 1000 sq ft and rotate the planting spots each year with 2 plants. Been doing that here for 10 years and adding something all of those 10 years...sometimes more sometimes less and over the years its only marginally deeper than when I began way back when...

10/15/2010 8:28:38 PM

Long Island,New York

Im up a foot after 12 years.

10/15/2010 8:53:35 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

G, does that mean you are now a lil over 8' tall? LOL Peace, Wayne

10/16/2010 3:38:41 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Thanks everybody.

North Shore, that is close to the size I will be using and good to hear once I get the initial soil test done. By rotating, I assume you mean planting the head stump area in a different section of the 1000 sq feet each year? Remember the post how I doubted squirrel damage a while back? Now I definitely owe you a beer!

Thanks,

Luke

10/16/2010 11:03:59 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Its all good Luke...squirrels are my enemy!!

Yes, I rotate the planting spots as it is all I can do. Was the advice of a local heavy hitter and has worked well for me.

After G's posting, I went and dug down and figured I've gained about 6" of soil over those 10 years but I've added alot more than that over the years. Like Brooks said the OM will get a bit depleted every year but that is why we add.

Good luck Luke, you'll have a great season in 2011.

10/16/2010 11:29:44 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Thanks again North Shore. Best of luck to you as well in 2011!

10/17/2010 1:54:09 AM