Pumpkin Tissue Testing

A week ago I sent in a leaf from my 1775 Starr plant to get some tissue testing done.  I've never done a tissue test although I get my soil tested every year.  Sometimes, even though you have more than adequate nutrients in the soil the plant can't get at them for a variety of reasons.  My tissue test came back with everything in normal range except my nitrates were high and my sulfur, zinc, manganese and copper were a touch low.  I'll give the plant some foliar applications of each to get them back into normal range.  Starting in August if my nitrates are still high I'll give the plant so foliar phosphorus applications to help with the nitrates.

This evening I gave the outer areas of my plant some kelp meal on the soil.  The kind I used had some beneficial bacteria mixed  in with it.  I also sprayed on the soil, under the leaves, some liquid seaweed with Life Hydroponics Vegetable & Fruit Yield Enhancer.  For the first time I went into the Hydro Store in Arvada today and began talking with the gentleman running the shop. I found him to be a super nice guy and I told him that I grow giant pumpkins.  He gave me a number of bottles of free samples including the Hydroponic Life products so I put some of it in with the seaweed.  If you are in Arvada stop by the Hydro Store off of Wadsworth.

The Life Hydroponics Vegetable & Fruit Yield Enhancer has humic acid, some benefical bacteria and myco in it so on paper it looks like some descent stuff.

Foliar Magnesium & Calcium for the Pumpkin Plants

This evening I did a foliar application of magnesium and calcium on the pumpkin plants.  My soil is high in potassium which will block some of the magnesium in the soil from being taken up by the roots so foliar applications of magnesium should help get the plants what they need.

I'm not 100% sure if foliar calcium can be absorbed by pumpkin leaves, but if calcium can be absorbed then I believe Metalosate Calcium or NurtiCal are the two best choices.  NutriCal isn't organic so it isn't my first choice so I mostly use Metalosate Calcium.  Next week I plan on doing a leaf tissue test so I can know exactly what the plant is absorbing and what it needs.  I've never done this before so I'm hoping that when the pumpkin starts growing I can be ready to give it what it needs.