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Vancouver Washington

I know there is a lot of talk about how important it is to rotate your planting areas, and I know that disease can be a problem after repeated planting in the same spots. I guess I am wondering if there are growers out there that are having good luck using the same sites over and over again - due to space limitations.

I would love to hear from some folks who grew some really big pumpkins...say over 1200 pounds in soil that has been repeatedly planted year after year.

And....if they have employed any specific strategies to help the soil stay healthy. Not to be an information snob, but am really interested in folks with actual experience growing on the same ground, not theoretical responses. I already know the fundamental paradigms of thought. I want to see who has had success even though the accepted best practice is rotation.

10/16/2010 5:14:51 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

I know Jeff Reid in Nova Scotia has planted in the same area for quite a few years, he seems to be doing good so it can't be all bad!

10/16/2010 6:00:22 PM

Northern California Foothills

As the only as you replenish the nutrients and no diseases overwinter you should be okay.

10/16/2010 6:14:46 PM

Joliet, IL

9 years now in the same backyard and i have topped my pb every year except the one year they all split about 7 years ago.

10/16/2010 7:13:53 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

There's so many amendments, compost, manure, peat moss, etc that we add each year that you may be growing in the same spot, but it's not really the same soil. If you don't have disease problems there's no reason you can't keep improving your soil as you grow in the same spot each year.

10/16/2010 7:18:30 PM

NewBrunswick Canada

I grew a 1468 lber on my 9 year old patch.

10/16/2010 8:42:29 PM

Clinton, Iowa

Since 1992 in my atch here in my side yard. success has been on and off....decent this year with a 1323 for State fair and 1242.5 for anamosa.....18 years and I worry about disease constantly
DAN

10/16/2010 11:05:20 PM

Gays Mills,WI

Many great growers have grown huge fruit year after year in the same spot. They have kept desease at bay and they keep the soil alive and healthy year after year. Cleaning up all plant debris in the fall and dispose of them outside the garden area, They never let this stuff compost down into the garden infested with insects and desease. Some only have 1 area and cant rotate,they seem to do well year after year because they are great growers and want to be in the running next year also

10/17/2010 4:20:48 AM

Gays Mills,WI

By rotating crops there is less pressure from insects and disease. Eventually they will have to let area rest or rotate in other crops because its only a matter of time desease will come.

10/17/2010 4:57:12 AM

Vernal, Utah

Don Young grows big and he uses the same area year after year.It takes few years to get you patch area built up so you have some decent soil. You have to replace what is used and be smart about diseases. If it works for him it is good enough for me.

10/17/2010 11:13:45 PM

Rhode Island

its always best to rotate planting areas very two to three years however many growers do not have the area to do that.
for those growers id suggest using the biological sprays and ground ammendments available to combat diseases.
if you dont you do run the risk of eventual disease build up in the soil.
pap

10/18/2010 7:42:24 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

I agree with Pap 100%, however, I am limited to a small area of approx. 3000 sq ft. I would love to be able to rotate patches, instead, I concentrate on adding beneficial microbes, bio fungicides, compost teas and mycorrhiza to the soil every season to introduce more "good guys" and try to offset the pathogens and keep the soil healthy.

10/18/2010 8:00:10 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

So what are the good biological products that will allow the soil to be more healthy and combat disease. How are these products applied?

10/18/2010 12:51:53 PM