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Minnesota

Does anybody add sand to there patch? what is the best kind to add, sandbox sand? You know those bag rolls of sand people buy to put in the back of vechicles for more traction, would those work? I want to make it more loamy. Thanks

2/17/2012 8:57:01 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Is the sand heavier than the dirt??? Organic Matter make it loamy

2/17/2012 9:56:05 PM

Muddy Waters

I have added sand to break up clay & give better drainage.I dont think it matters what kind!You can get a small dump truck load for 100$ or so or drive a truck to gravel pit a yd might be 20$

2/17/2012 10:26:46 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Sharp washed sand... I have adobe clay and it went in with the subsoil breaking. I won't have to do subsoiling for quite some time now (at least water will drain now!) I have friend that owns sand and gravel pit and he gave me 'large sieve' sharp washed.

We have something called 'blow sand' which is a very fine particulate sand that's windblown and fills ditches. This stuff will set up like concrete... so no good.

2/18/2012 4:31:11 AM

Minnesota

ok, thanks, maybe more compost instead of sand.

2/18/2012 5:21:59 AM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

A bit of info re: sand. The concrete plant acrosse the road uses 2 types of sand. When pulling weeds from the piles the roots on the grainy river sand are impressive. The sand costs $14/yd (~3000 pounds) I would suggest Okie's recommendation or grainy river sand if one does add sand. I believe mineral content in the river sand to be very good.

2/18/2012 7:10:53 AM

Long Island,New York

I hear Don Young and John Van Hook have been almost as successful as Frank Mudd in incorporating ample quantities of sand in their growing supplies.

2/18/2012 7:33:51 AM

Muddy Waters

Your right those are better type sands to use,but how will it set up like concrete if tilled in with clay & compost.Someone once explained to me that sand is the largest particle in soil not counting rocks & pebbles of course.So getting that larger grain mixed in the clay keeps the clay seperated.Thats mostly my goal.I would love to have Chris Kents sand in my patch.

2/18/2012 7:49:55 AM

Minnesota

Amelio, you come across as being a rotten person. You don't like giant pumpkins, you don't like the people who grow them. These methods you speak of have never been used on giant pumpkins, how can you recommend them? maybe they work for what you grow but have they ever been used on giant pumpkins? no. Why not go through one season and tell us what worked.

2/18/2012 9:33:24 AM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

i have added significant amounts of sand to my patch over the last few years with good success. i added somewhere around 60 tons to my total 60 x 140 patch. i also add compost every year. the main problem is getting it properly mixed to depth. A three point hitch tiller is best for this

2/18/2012 11:07:29 AM

Muddy Waters

Yes I use the 3 point tiller it mixes well,handtiller would be tough to use for an even mix.This takes years of working soil.I have been at it 16 years now.I would still like to see a better drainage.Im bringing in a few truckloads of sand this spring.

2/18/2012 12:44:39 PM

Upa Creek, MO

My patch drained terribly last year when I first created it as it was clay based. I did add some sand (maybe a 1/2 yard worth). I agree with Countykid too, it was hard to get the sand\dirt to be homogenous through out the patch, but worth it. Liquid gypsum also helped break up the dirt and helped with drainage too.

2/18/2012 1:51:28 PM

Hot West Tennessee

I talked to a avid gardner last week that uses granite meal or dust. He gets his from a gravel quary near him. He is getting his best results in years. He said you can get it as chicken grit in smaller amounts. I am trying to locate some near me. And it has potassium.

2/18/2012 3:39:22 PM

Minnesota

Ah, Amelio, you are ungodly. You have no reason to be here but to talk down to growers and praise yourself. So, you have learned nothing while you have been here & after seeing the way growers use soil to grow pumpkins you have decided you don't want to grow pumpkins at all. The Truth is there is no reason for you to be here, what is your point? scare us with your scientific methods? Oh, wait, no sh-t, you noticed that about the Wiz, I've thinking all along he might be planning a terrorist attack on some inocent grower. I have a hotline number to Seal Team 6 if he unleashes one of his tirade's.

2/18/2012 3:42:55 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Amelio? Is he still around? Thanks for the ignore option Ken.

2/18/2012 4:37:10 PM

Minnesota

Amelio, all this comes from growing something other than giant pumpkins, put your money where your mouth is and grow a giant pumpkin. All this talk you talk and how it will make a bigger pumpkin, you sound over confident at the least. I thought it was a safe presumption, you don't like giant pumpkin growers, you said you would'nt be growing them, now your son won't, I thought it was safe to say you would'nt be growing pumpkins. This is just a lot of talk from you Amelio, all show and no go. Your telling how to do this yet you have never done it, now you would'nt do it. Are you so high on your street drugs that you can not make sense with your thoughts. Growers know what over fertilization means. You contradict yourself, fish dirt? you said you would be using fish and seaweed only your wife is alergic. Hows that for scientific. Maybe you should visit your opium den, or your favorite amsterdam coffee house and leave us alone, eh. Now take a chill pill Amelio.

2/18/2012 4:52:33 PM

Omaha, Ne.

As the pumpkin turns

2/18/2012 5:07:37 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Thanks for the laugh Darren!



Ignore button is your friend!



I haven't seen one post of his for sometime now!

2/18/2012 5:56:33 PM

Omaha, Ne.

His ego wont let him see himself as anything but great. There for he can't see how abusive he is to others. Then can't understand why everyone is so mean to him. His ego won't let him see any side but his own. I hope he sees this be for he hurts the ones he loves.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishsticks_%28South_Park%29

2/18/2012 6:03:38 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Wish I could So... But I but I'm fascinated By mental illnesses

2/18/2012 6:13:56 PM

Minnesota

I don't feel that way at all. It is not the use of drugs or alcohol, it is the abuse. For example, to much is no good, your scientific mind comming here trying to convert others to think like you, nothing wrong with your scientific ways, but your too much. I can read, I think its your math, your story does not add up, you dislike giant pumpkins, the seeds, the way growers grow, the growers themselfs, yet you come here for what reason? do you really think we will put up with your battering attempts? Your the fascist, you come in here talking how its going to be now that Amelio's in town. Now get out of here you crazy nut, lets go get some of them German beers, go down to the local Polka, dance with some of them Polka woman and have a real workout!

2/18/2012 6:16:01 PM

East Jordan, MI

yes I love the ignore feature, join the rest of us and ignore him Richard and he might just go away, but if he doesn't he can just talk to himself, won't bother me one bit.

2/19/2012 6:16:36 AM

Rhode Island

ignore-ignore-ignore-ignore- use the button like most of us have done already.

2/19/2012 8:14:23 AM

Cameron

We have added a few truck loads of sand in our patch as well. We believe it made a difference.
Jane & Phil

2/19/2012 9:23:44 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Is Amelio stll posting??? Thanks Ken for the "eliminate" or "ignore" feature....really cuts the crap!!

2/19/2012 1:35:30 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

...on the sand topic...the compost we buy is 25% Fraser River sand anyways so I dont need to add any...

Makes a huge differance to the tilth and texture of the overall soil and makes for great drainage. With the high organic matter that most of us have in the patch...we'd be doomed without the addition of sand.

http://www.fraserrichmond.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Garden-Blend.pdf

2/19/2012 1:43:55 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Yes I added gravel this year at home to the WiZ patch....needing to break up all the clay from my overly juiced soil. I also mucked fish headZ and brown kelpZ too....along with lotZ of coffee groundZ.....

2/21/2012 10:00:03 AM