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Garden Gate:  Square Foot Garden not doing well...help!  |
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Peg Graham
True Blue Farmgirl
281 Posts
Peg
Chesapeake
Virginia
USA
281 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 12 2009 : 4:45:04 PM
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Ok, so over 2 months ago we did Square Foot Gardening, only my husband decided to do it his way and didn't follow Mel's advice on using his soil mixture. Our veggies haven't produced anything yet...the tomatoes...one small green one and 6 romas all tiny and still green after showing themselves 2 weeks ago. What happened??? Then, there's the flower gardens....those are growing....but like weeds!!!!Only one orange flower....lavender won't grow, sunflower stalks are a few feet tall, no flowers yet. the rest...just green and bushy, leafy....no color. Am I just impatient? HELP!
miles of smiles~
Peg
http://thelavenderfairy.blogspot.com/ |
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dutchgirl
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
Lorraine
Hanover
PA
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2009 : 6:39:36 PM
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| It is still early-esp if you started from seeds. Or your beds are not deep enough, fertile enough, or enough water. Tonight I planted some starter plants because I'm impatient and I have little sprouts -instead of the beautiful tomato plants at the store. Anyway-when I dugged the hole for the plants -the soil was healthy with a ton of worms and life. My old beds that are just 4 inches tall are not doing as well as the deep beds of 8-12 inches deep. Start with the best soil and everything will fall into place-be patient. Good luck.Lorraine Farmgirl #500 |
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Windsong
True Blue Farmgirl
309 Posts
LaVonna
Decatur
Tx
309 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2009 : 6:59:23 PM
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I did square foot gardens a few years back. I dug the bed and added compost and I took the donkey poop and added it. The reason I say that is that donkey poop seems to compost to powder in a weeks time. Anyway, I put that powdered poop in the beds and things grew like dynamite. I loved this method.
Compost is a such a great addition to garden soil in this area. Don't give up but you may have to amend your soil. I now do raised beds in a 4x8 plan but other than that it is the same idea. I planted in March things that are growing like crazy now. My tomato plants, swiss chard, turnips, squash, there is spinach growing under the squash leaves. Green beens are doing well. But I am in Texas and our last freeze was late for Texas even and it was in early April. We have had really good weather for gardens.
LaVonna
www.windsongwellnessandtherapyshoppe.com
http://sadiesfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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laurzgot
True Blue Farmgirl
1885 Posts
Laurie
Alvin
Texas
USA
1885 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2009 : 7:59:29 PM
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I do raised beds also with compost. My place is in Texas also,but closer to the gulfcoast. I started my seeds indoors in Feb. than but in raised beds in middle march or so. The tomato plants, cucumbers are all doing well. Still getting some bush beans and lettuce we got to eat those first. Just be patient and water. You might want to airate the soil. Best of luck.
Laurie
suburban countrygirl at heart |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2009 : 8:46:31 PM
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Hey Peg,
One of the important parts to Mel's method is the 5 different sources for your compost, so that there are plenty of nurtients in the soil. I would try adding soil adds like coffee grounds ( if it is like lettuce) or other natural soil builders.. Just google "natural soil builders" and you will get a list. But there is time....
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/RFBlog/
www.twitter.com/RuralFarmgirl
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
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Windsong
True Blue Farmgirl
309 Posts
LaVonna
Decatur
Tx
309 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2009 : 10:12:45 PM
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Rene is right. While I did use mostly ingredients from the farm I also added alfalfa meal and it was amazing how much that helped. I need to do that again to my current garden plots.
The soil test is a good idea. In my area some of the terrain is lacking magnesium and you can just add epsom salt. But you need to know before you start getting too far into it.
LaVonna
www.windsongwellnessandtherapyshoppe.com
http://sadiesfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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pamcook
True Blue Farmgirl
228 Posts
Pam
Chapel Hill
NC
USA
228 Posts |
Posted - Jun 15 2009 : 06:05:23 AM
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I agree - check the soil. I didn't pay attention to the correct ratio with Mel's mix last year and what a disaster. This year, I corrected the ratio and everything is growing like crazy. Seriously, folks are amazed that someone who spends maybe 5 minutes a week piddling in her garden has such healthy plants.
www.ikat.org
www.longaberger.com/pamcook |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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sonshine4u
Chapter Guru
1205 Posts
April
New Prague
MN
USA
1205 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2009 : 1:56:23 PM
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Check on your seed packets the amount of days till fruit/flowers should appear. That should help you also with the waiting game of your garden growing!
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
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SpiritedRose
Farmgirl in Training
22 Posts
Michelle
Chestertown
MD
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - Jun 18 2009 : 08:59:34 AM
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We used to get lots of people that would come out with their pickups and scoop manure from our solid pile (from dairy cows) and take it home to put on their gardens. Plus, they paid us in free produce ;)
Look for a farm and get some poo goin!!
Cheesemaker with a supportive husband,
Registered Jersey breeder, AKC Akita breeder, and friend of two favorite cats!
spiritedrose.wordpress.com |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jun 19 2009 : 01:49:27 AM
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I never used Mel's soil mix. I got my soil from a local company that was 1/3 sand, 1/3 compost and 1/3 loam. Things always did pretty well. One year we change the source for the soil and it was a disaster. I would definitely have the soil tested. Are you fertilizing?? It almost sounds like too much nitrogen.
Handmade Soap & Lotion Bars http://www.therusticcottagebath.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/rusticcottage
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azgardengirl
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
Camille
Gilbert
Arizona
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2009 : 10:04:53 AM
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I have raised beds and use the SFG method from Mel's book, which I love, but didn't fill with his soil mix recipe. It took a whole growing season for my soil to become "active" and now everything is wonderful. But the first season, I had exactly the same problem as you. Just keep on growing. The soil has to "wake up".
http://arizonagardengirl.wordpress.com/ |
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2009 : 11:42:22 AM
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I agree with Brenda...even a little bit off on pH affects the micro and macro nutrients that the plants can utilize, even if they're in the soil. If the pH is off, nothing else will fall into place. Here in the intermountain west (Montana), we deal with alkaline soil. VA and WA usually have to deal with more acidic soil. If you're unable to get a soil test (or they're too expensive), the OTC soil tests at least give you a ball park to start from.
Good luck!!!
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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quiltin mama
True Blue Farmgirl
436 Posts
Heather
Crescent City
CA
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2009 : 5:36:30 PM
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I would agree that your first step would be to check your soil. Sq. Ft. gardening, I'm assuming, would require a VERY high nutrient soil. Most plants like to be spaced out (i.e. tomatoes and broccoli from 24 to 36 inches between each one.) That way they have plenty of nutrients to draw from in the space around them.
I know that our local co-op has soil testers for something around $5.00.
Good luck and I hope that your garden is up and growing well soon! :)
You can visit my blog at www.mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com |
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Garden Gate: Square Foot Garden not doing well...help! |
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Square Foot Garden not doing well...help!
