From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Onawa,Iowa

I'm nine miles from the Missouri River, I will not be flooded by the U.S.Corp of Engineers by way of record 150,000cfs release from Gavins Point Dam, but by the rising
water table which today was at 5 foot down. The Corp said they will flow 150,000cfs or more thru September.
I last fall cut the hard pan with a inline single shank
ripper down 19 inches in both directions of the patch,
which will let the ground water come up faster.
My question is with the underground irrigation what can
I expect and counter act the rising water table?
My two fair plants have been outside sence the first of
April with pumpkins on board. Do I just use the misters
and hope the kin's don't explode from to much H2O from the rising water table. This sux's
Rain water will be the killer for sure!
Any advice would be appreciated. This is my rookie year.
Thanks Snoman911

6/9/2011 4:43:20 AM

tough questions to answer i feel for you i know what floods can do one thing id watch is bottoms of pumpkins raise them up higher on sand and or mill fabric than rest of patch or bottoms will rot i hauled away 5-6 1100 lbers mid august last summer soft underneath from wet

6/9/2011 7:52:06 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

If the water table stays 5' down you should be OK. When we design tile drainage systems around here for crops we try to keep the water table 3' to 4' down. My patch is on a creek bottom and usually has a water table around 5' down. You may run into rot rot problems if the water table gets too high for too long. You may need a systemic fungicide like alliette or agri-fos. 2 years ago I had water 2' above the surface for a couple hours. My son's pumpkins survived, mine rotted on the bottom. Use sand like Don suggested.

6/9/2011 9:14:13 AM

Johnston, Iowa

I think Don and Mark have given some great advice. I don't have anything to add, but to say we're thinking of you folks in western Iowa who are dealing with this unprecedented Missouri River flood. Hope all those levees hold!

6/9/2011 12:03:27 PM

Clinton, Iowa

Alright alright quit your whining over there...it's not as if you're the first to face a floooding patch....relax you'll be fine it's just a pumpkin after all....
DAN

6/9/2011 7:40:29 PM

Clinton, Iowa

OK OK I have to admitt that is my cousin I am talking to ....Good luck CUUUUUZZZZ I will be pulling for you...

6/9/2011 7:41:15 PM