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Connecticut

Growers always want to know what their nitrogen levels are and I tell them time and time again that a regular soil test does not give an accurate evaluation of your pumpkin patch. Simply put nitrogen is always changing in the soil and you want to submit a sample and get results that closely match your field conditions so you have accurate information.

Step one is getting a ‘good’ sample and these are the basic steps I recommend…
1.)    Take 12 cores randomly in the patch that are 12” deep. (Standard soil test is 6-8”)
2.)    Mix the dozen cores in a clean pail
3.)    Take 1-cup out and place in a breathable bag (this can be a cloth bag or two paper bags
4.)    Send them to a lab (I recommend UConn for this as they turn samples around in 24-hr. this month)

This will ensure you get an accurate result that you can work with to determine what action if any you should take for you patch. This test is used mainly by commercial corn growers but it is applicable to pumpkin growers. I recommend you do the test as the vines are actively running (so basically this time of year). The test is inexpensive and provides you another point of information that will help you gain knowledge about your patch conditions.

For those growers in areas that received a lot of rain, this will naturally reduce the nitrogen reading. However, typical giant pumpkin patches are very high in organic matter and the nitrogen can bounce back after a heavy rain storm. I recommend if possible you wait at least 3 days after a heavy rain so you get a more field representative sample.

Sheet with proper sampling instructions and fees:
www.soiltest.uconn.edu/factsheets/PSNTInstructions.pdf

Using this test for commercial pumpkin growers:
http://soiltest.uconn.edu/factsheets/PreSidedrssNtestPumpkins.pdf

Any questions, let me know.

6/25/2013 9:29:45 PM