"IN THE PATCH"

THE PH BALANCE OF SOIL

SOIL WITH A PH VALUE OF 7 INDICATE A NEUTRAL SOIL, ABOVE PH 7 IS ALKALINE AND BELOW PH 7 IS AN ACID SOIL. THE PH VALUE OF THE SOIL AFFECTS THE AVAILABILITY OF PLANT FOODS - (N) NITROGEN , (P) PHOSPHORUS AND (K) POTASH AND PREVENTS THE SPREAD OF SOIL BORNE DISEASES.
WORKING WITH YOUR SOIL , NOT AGAINST IT, WILL HELP YOU ACHIEVE MORE SUCCESSFUL RESULTS.
ANY CHANGES MADE TO YOUR SOILS PH SHOULD BE DONE IN THE FALL OR EARLY SPRING , TO GIVE THE ADDITVE TIME TO ADJUST THE SOILS PH.
TO MAKE A SOIL MORE ALKALINE (SWEETER), YOU NEED TO ADD LIME.
TO RAISE THE PH BY .5  - ADD 1-2 LBS FOR SANDY SOIL
                                        -  ADD 2-3 LBS FOR LOAMY SOIL
                                         - ADD 4-5 LBS FOR CLAY SOIL
ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR SOIL AT THE PH LEVEL YOU WANT , ADD 1/4 TO 1/2 LBS OF AGRICULTURAL LIME YEARLY.
TO MAKE A SOIL MORE ACID (SOUR), YOU NEED TO ADD IRON SULPHATE OR FLOWERS OF SULPHER.
TO LOWER THE PH BY .5 - ADD 1/4-1/2 LBS FOR SANDY SOIL
                                          - ADD 1/2-1 1/2 LBS FOR LOAMY SOIL
                                          - ADD 1-2 LBS FOR CLAY SOIL
ADDING COMPOST , PEAT AND MANURE WILL ALSO LOWER THE PH OF A SOIL.
                                                                                                                            Submitted by: GARY BURKE          

Pumpkins use a lot of water and putting it on the leaves can bring on other problems. One method of gettting water to the plants that has worked for me is using a buried soaker hose.  The source can be the tap water or from elevated barrels.
I have two barrels placed on top of a shed  with a height of about ten feet. I fill the barrels in the morning with an array of hoses from the house water. I let the water heat up through the day and then in the evening I let it out into the pumpkin patch. Letting the water remain in the barrels also has the effect of allowing city water chemicals to disperse into the atmosphere. I'm not sure about that fact but it sounds good! It's also a good way of mixing fertilizer into the water because you can verify the consistency of the mix You also know how much water you ater putting on each plant.
On each plant I use at least 150 feet of soaker hose and water it with at least one barrel a day. Now this is not all the water I give the plant. On extremely hot weather days I have added water by useing a garden hose along the edge and reaching as far as I can into the plant. Because last year was very extreme I even watered overhead!

Information submitted by Peter Tursa
                                         Ancaster, On.

This year, on one plant, I am trying a new system of adding nutrients, it's called the Blumat System. It's a drip watering system, which can be used for a single potted plant, or extended for use in the garden. With this system I am adding magnesium, iron, and zinc. If it works it will be great for the backyard gardener a couple of plants. It can be ordered from:
                                Northern Oasis
                                Tropical Seeds and Plants
                                445 Selsey dr.
                                Mississauga, Ont.
                                 L5A 1B7
                                (905) 897-6816

Information submitted by: Ken Armstrong

BLUMAT WATERING SYSTEM