Because of some health reasons, I did not get a good start on my gardening until late this year. I do hope to use the next cool months to get things ready for next year and get a jump on things.
All of the cantaloupes, watermelons, and pumpkins I planted this year failed dismally. They had yellow leaves and tiny fruit. This was the first planting. I had a sandy area where there was a water head, so I added about five bags of amendment (turkey shit based locally suggested stuff) and a bale of peat moss. I did have sprinkler heads on there, but when I thought it may be watering too much, I put bubblers on there with lower water flow.
For next year:
Should I till more amendments in there? Should I mound it up? How much water, and how often for about six plants? What fertilizer, and how often? The lady at the nursery suggested three things to mix in there, blood meal, cottonseed meal, and another I can't recall, which I did. She was really hyped on using natural things rather than chemical fertilizers. I do have access to all the horse and cow dung I want to collect right next door.
Help appreciated.
Oh, 3700' elevation, XXtreme SW Utah. Right on the lines zonally, but 6-7 here:
La Verkin is the closest town to our burb.
Steve