Organic Pumpkins vs. Conventionally Grown

Soil Testing

• Soil testing is very important when you grow organic pumpkins. When you grow conventional pumpkins, you can treat the soil and fertilize it with chemical fertilizers to balance out the soil nutrients, but you have fewer options with organic pumpkins. You need soil with lots of nitrogen and potassium and need to make sure your pH is between 6.0 and 6.5.

Weed Control

• When weeds are a problem with conventionally grown pumpkins, a herbicide is applied that targets the specific type of weed causing the problem. With organic pumpkins, weed control is more about the preventative measures that keep the weeds from becoming a problem in the first place. Dale R. Mutch and others from Michigan State University achieved positive results using fall-seeded Wheeler rye that was subsequently crimped and rolled. This layer creates a healthy growing environment for organic pumpkins that other weeds have a hard time penetrating.

Disease

• Disease is prevented in conventional pumpkin crops through the use of fungicides and other chemicals. In organic crops, measures need to be taken to prevent disease from occurring or the crop will be at risk. Certain ingredients need to be kept out of compost to reduce the chances of disease. Cucumber especially should be avoided because pumpkins and cucumbers share diseases.

Fertilizers

• There are fertilizer options that are purely organic that help pumpkins thrive in an organic growing operation. Conventional pumpkin fertilization usually calls for a high phosphorus fertilizer early in the season, followed by a fertilizer with equal phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen later in the season. Fertilize organic pumpkins with alfalfa meal to increase soil nitrogen, and try some oyster or eggshell fertilizer if you need more potassium.