Kitchen Garden Forum

I am getting ready to plant out our pumpkins/squashes and I have Lakeviews thorough instructions from Jan 2006 to assist me. However, I no longer have a supply of rotted manure and only limited amount of store bought peat free compost. Site for the said pumpkins is new (i.e. only weeds their last year) and hasn't had anything (manure, compost, fertiliser) on it. I do have a good stinking barell full of nettle 'tea' which I could use. Does this sound like a good idea? Was thinking to plant pumpkins and then place an upturned plastic bottle half burried next to each plant in which to feed them with the nettle brew. Any thoughts most welcomed.

Hope the weather is better where you are than where I am!

Tara

Hello Taralastair
What I do when planting in a similar situation to yours is to make a large hole about the size of a 12in pot and then fill this with whatever compost I have to hand ie old potting compost or a mixture of old and new even something well-rotted from the heap and finally plant into this after firming it all down. Its also a good idea to plant on a slight ridge so that water doesn't hang around the plant.
I would use the nettle tea through a can and give it as and when you think the plants need watering. Keeping the roots permanently moist with a bottle feeder might cause them to rot off.

John

PS I also put a cane next to each plant as a marker because otherwise later on when they have spread everywhere I can't work out where the base of the plant is for watering and feeding.

I posted some time ago on squash growing.

Top tips.
Plant through a weed suppressor.
Plant a 2L bottle next to each plant, no cap, bottom cut off, cap end down and with a four foot cane through the cap hole. I'm on clay, so if it drys your water runs away and only goes down a bit. The bottle puts it down away from sun and wind. Thed suppressor also plays a part, I use carpet, as it cuts evaporative loss from the soil surface.
Use as much, compost/manure/whatever you can in the bed, sprinkle pelleted chicken manure.

Good luck.

Hello Tara - I can add little to the advice you have already been given as I've never grown pumpkins without manure, but have you thought about just buying enough bags of farmyard manure from a nursery/garden centre? The last time we bought some, it was about £10 for 4 x 50L. Well rotted and beautifully friable too. If you don't have too many plants, it could be well worth your while. Otherwise, it is rather an expensive way option.