Ideas for Pumpkins and Fall Prep

[TNJOHN1533]

Good morning, I recently purchased a farm in southern TN and one of the first things I'm planning to do is have a pumpkin patch, probably a couple/few acres worth. What I'd like to do is just do an acre/half acre the first year so I can get my process down and see what works/what doesnt. I have a couple questions though for those that have ideas on fall prep for my patch. Right now it's good healthy, thick cow pasture (as it's been for 25 years). Below is my initial thought process for each step along with my questions.
1. to plow it in late Oct
Question: I have a powerstar 75, 6klb bare tractor weight, R1s, catII 3ph. Should I be using a 3 bottom or 4 bottom plow or something diff? here are two options:
Ford 4 bottom plow - farm & garden - by owner - sale
Massey Ferguson Plow - farm & garden - by owner - sale

2. till it a few days after it's plowed, I have a 7' BH tiller

3. plant a cover crop
Question:Any suggestions on a crop to plant for my area? I plan to find a used seed spreader 3ph

4. then in the late spring/early summer push the cover crop down and till where the raised beds will go (leaving the cover crop on the ground)
Question: I was going to use the loader to push the crop down, figured I may have to go over it a few times unless someone has an idea on something that would knock it down better than the loader. I don't want to spend money to buy a crimper or whatever those things are called that are designed just for this.

5. run an implement to create the raised beds
Question: which implement would be best to create these raised beds, a bed shaper? Is there any other creative way to make these beds without spending money on another implement?

6. modify a planter to drop pumpkin seeds (3-5 seeds per hill)
Question: has anyone modified one to do this? Here are two options near me
International Harvester Farmall 2 Row Planter 3pt Hitch IH Corn & Bean - farm & garden - by owner - sale
Burch planter - farm & garden - by owner - sale

I plan to till in between the rows (probably do 10' spacing between rows) to keep weeds down once they come up through the cover crop.
Any ideas anyone has please let me know!

 

[nybirdman]

I would plow ,till and plant winter rye(green manure) right now.Plow under in the spring and plant.If you have any working farms in the area;the more "real manure" you can put on it the better.Winter rye or winter wheat like the cooler weather and will sprout quickly.

 

[TNJOHN1533]

Thanks so you're suggesting plow and till in the spring and not worry about making raised beds?

 

[nybirdman]

Thanks so you're suggesting plow and till in the spring and not worry about making raised beds?

No,I meant "fall" plowing and plant winter wheat/rye and rework in the spring.Raised beds are your choice but don't think it is necessary for pumpkins.The more "manure" you can add the better pumpkins you will have.

 

[CMV]

Pumpkin novice, but I did some in mounds, some just flat ground. The ones in the flat ground did MUCH better in same soil than the mounds. Enough so that I'm not making another mound. Drip irrigation was much easier on the flat patches as well. Planting much faster/easier too...just plant rows, then thin.

 

[TNJOHN1533]

interesting, thanks CMV, I'll experiment but glad to hear for once the easier route might be the better route lol!
thanks for the clarification birdman

 

[lennyzx11]

I’m considering this also.
From a novice.
Why plow/till now the pasture grass and replant with rye grass as a cover crop to plow and till under once again in the spring?
I’m sure there’s a reason that you couldn’t just wait and plow and till the pasture grass in spring but not quite sure why. Loosening the soil is my first thought and breaking up grass roots.

 

[CMV]

interesting, thanks CMV, I'll experiment but glad to hear for once the easier route might be the better route lol!
thanks for the clarification birdman

Probably lots of variables like type of pumpkin, soil composition & nutrients, rainfall, temps, etc....so not saying tilling then planting in rows is better than doing mounds. Just saying that in my case I got better results that way

If you aren't opposed to roundup, I'd spray the area before starting too. 3 of my flat patches (not mounds), I ripped up virgin soil - was just grass/weeds that I kept mowed. 2 of them I bush hogged as short as possible, sprayed roundup, ripped a little with box blade teeth, then tilled with rotary tiller. 3rd, I did same but skipped the roundup step just to see if it made a difference. So I ripped a lot more with box blade teeth, then pushed as much of that off the area as i could without removing all topsoil, then tilled. HUGE difference in amount and size of weeds by harvest time - the roundup first spots had probably 75% less grass/weeds growing and barely anything taller than a pumpkin plant. The no roundup area was chest-high weeds, lots of grass, etc. Much more difficult to pick that one. Bugs did a lot more damage in that field too. Not saying the roundup or the presence of more grass/weeds was the reason - could have just been that type pumpkin was more susceptible to the bugs - but did notice a difference.

 

[TNJOHN1533]

very interesting, I wish there was a less toxic alternative to using roundup. While I know it works I really want to avoid it.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

John, I live in northern middle TN. I planted a pumpkin patch a few years ago. First, a couple/few acres will yield a lot of pumpkins. My patch was probably about 50 x 100 and I got a good yield of both larger jack-o-lantern size and smaller decorative pumpkins. I assume you intend to sell yours. Mine was strictly for fun. I invited a church group over and let everyone pick all they wanted free. I still had a bunch left over.

I'll put in my 2 cents worth of suggestions.

I understand you don't like Roundup, but you will probably have better weed control using it.

I'm not sure fall prep or raised rows will gain you much. I would just till, plant and fertilize next year. Be cognizant of the maturity date of the variety you plant. Don't get in too big of a hurry. You don't want maturity too early before the Halloween selling season.

Insect control will probably be your biggest headache. There are many seed varieties that help with insect control. I would suggest using one of those varieties. The catalogs offered for free by the seed supply companies offer a wealth of good information. Order several and read a lot. You should have fun with your pumpkin project. Post pics next year during the process.

By the way I have a two row JD 71 planter that I want to sell. I also have lots of plates including corn, soybeans, sunflowers. I think I even have pumpkin seed plates. I didn't use the planter to plant my pumpkins so can't vouch for its effectiveness planting pumpkins. I have it priced higher than the ones you linked but the JD 71 is a highly sort after planter. PM me if you have interest.