Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

My garden sucked last year

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Home & Family » Gardening Group Donate to DU
 
bearfan454 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-26-11 12:57 PM
Original message
My garden sucked last year
My tomato plants were 6 feet tall with all kinds of yellow flowers on them and very few tomatoes. In fact it was the worst garden I've had in about 10 years. I did some research and found out 2 things I did wrong. First I watered every day. When it's 95 to 100 every day it seems dumb not to water. Second I gave them too much nitrogen. I tilled in chicken compost, added slow release nitrogen bb's, and hit the plants with Miracle Grow for tomatoes once a week. It was too much. It's the same thing I've done every year and had great results. Everyone at work and all the neighbors said their tomato plants sucked too. I would much rather have 4 foot plants with gobs of tomatoes. Mrs bearfan told me her mother used to put epsom salt in the dirt for magnesium and potassium. Did anyone else run into this problem? Any suggestions?
Refresh | 0 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
NRaleighLiberal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Mar-26-11 01:59 PM
Response to Original message
1. It really was the excessive heat. Most tomatoes will not set fruit in temps over 90.
I had the poor fruit set issue, as well as rampant Septoria leaf spot. Worst garden in my 30 years of gardening! I am aiming to get things going much sooner this year.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
wildeyed Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-27-11 12:28 PM
Response to Original message
2. Mine were awful.
Too hot. If I recall, you should water with the epsom salt right as the plant sets bloom, at least with peppers.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Denninmi Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Mar-27-11 02:41 PM
Response to Original message
3. Heat and excess N can both do it.
My particular problem last year was deer and woodchucks. Had you asked me in mid-July if I'd get any tomatoes, I would have said probably not. In the end, I got enough, but it was fairly late.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Suich Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Mar-28-11 01:49 AM
Response to Original message
4. I'm trying this:
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Wed May 01st 2024, 08:36 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Home & Family » Gardening Group Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC