How Much & How Often to Put Nitrate of Soda on Pumpkin Plants

Features

• Nitrate of soda, also called sodium nitrate or Chilean nitrate due to its source, is a mined mineral. High in nitrogen, nitrate of soda is water soluble and dissipates quickly into the soil to be absorbed by plant roots. Because nitrate of soda is easily used by the plant, it is often used on summer plants such as pumpkins, tomatoes or cucumbers that develop leafy foliage on vines with fast-growing fruit. Nitrate of soda is easy to apply as it can be broadcast over the soil, used as a plant side-dressing or dissolved into an irrigation system.
  
  

Function

• Nitrogen leaches quickly from soil and into the air, so sometimes additional nitrogen is needed to feed pumpkin plants from spring planting through fall harvest. Signs of nitrogen deprivation include leaf yellowing and stunted pumpkin vine growth. The nitrate of sodium stimulates plant growth and green leaves, which in turn carry nutrition to the maturing pumpkins. Pumpkin plants are heavy feeders and use nitrogen from the soil as well as supplemental fertilizers.
  
  

Application

• Early in the season, a balanced fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash is broadcast over the pumpkin patch and, with organic fertilizer such as manure, is worked into the soil. This supplies the nutritional needs for young pumpkin plants. As the young vines grow, foliar fertilizer applications add extra nutrients to the plant. Organic mulches such as straw are used around the plants to control moisture levels and suppress weed growth. Mix one tablespoon nitrate of soda into each bushel of mulch to boost nitrogen. Apply the nitrate of soda enriched mulch early in the summer and no more than once or twice a year.
  
  

Considerations

• Nitrate of soda contains natural sodium. High levels of sodium or salts are harmful to many plants and do not wash away or leach out as quickly as nitrogen. These deposits accumulate in the soil, so nitrate of soda is not recommended for frequent application. Avoid direct application to plants as nitrate of soda contains 16 percent nitrogen, a concentrated level that can burn plant foliage. Till the soil after harvest, picking up debris and working mulch into the soil to decompose for the next season.