Frustration

I don't think this is slug or snail damage. They normally leave quite a "rounded" damage area, and not the small ragged holes like you have (unless you have a group of baby slugs doing the damage) It does look like something is munching on the plants though.
What we use for slug control is a mixture of ammonia and water in a 50:50 ratio. We spray the slugs/snails and the ammonia acts like the salt, but without leaving salt residue in the soil. The ammonia residue breaks down to nitrogen in the soil. If you have shaded areas, like boards or rocks/bricks around the beds, lift them to check for slugs/snails and pill bugs (look like armadillos). All three will damage plants, particularly young leaves.
If you DO have a slug issue, the easiest thing to do is to install a continuous strip of copper tape around the edge of the box. Snails won't cross it, as it gives them a shock. If you do this, just make sure there are no leaves or other item that they can use as a bridge across the barrier.

The copper tape is a myth, unless you electrify it.

A moisture meter is an excellent idea. I will look into that this week...

copper tape may be a myth but I discovered last year they won't cross the prickly side of hook and latch(zelcro).

ooooooooooooh good one!

Lavender Debs wrote:

shannon1 wrote:copper tape may be a myth but I discovered last year they won't cross the prickly side of hook and latch(zelcro).

This opens up a whole new realm of how to get a poly cover open and resealed. Thanks Shannon! I love dual purpose.

OMG! DEB good thinking so early in the morning!

camprn...great picture-you're totally correct about that-it doesn't work. I know, I was one who spent a lot of money lining all my boxes with the stuff a few years ago and it was a complete waste. I don't know how this myth got started but it's been around for a while...

shannon1 wrote:copper tape may be a myth but I discovered last year they won't cross the prickly side of hook and latch(zelcro).

Are you sure? I am not doubting, just wondering of you have witnessed this. They do come with glue backs I know, although for outside I think some staples or nails may be in order.

Lavender Debs wrote:

shannon1 wrote:copper tape may be a myth but I discovered last year they won't cross the prickly side of hook and latch(zelcro).

This opens up a whole new realm of how to get a poly cover open and resealed. Thanks Shannon! I love dual purpose.

That was just how I made the discovery. I used the hook and latch tape but sadly it did not stick well to the box or insect barrier but it did keep the snails out after I nailed it to the box.

Here are a few more pics of my problems. I am going to buy a moisture meter today...but still don't know what's going on..I am working today on getting the fallen tree leaves out of the boxes since this could be causing fungus as per someone's suggestion on here. Also someone wanted to see general garden pics, so those are at the end...thx

Well I visited a feed and seed store in town today, and they had a guy there who is in charge of the gardening section. Everyone in the area recommended I talk to this guy. After looking at my pics, he seems to think it is an iron or potassium deficiency. So we are going to start with some fertilizer.

I know SFG is supposed to not need any type of fertilizing...but I'm getting pretty desperate. Maybe I've done something along the way that caused this, although I went by the book when it came to the MM.

So several days ago I followed a guys advice at a local feed store, used some Green Light 20-20-20 fertilizer, and after just a few days, the plants are doing 100% better. Leaves greening up, plants all the sudden growing like crazy, etc.

So obviously something went wrong with my MM? I'm not sure what happened, as I used both local stuff (llama poo and rabbit poo)...as well as store bought stuff (worm castings, Black Kow, composted chicken, cotton burr compost, turkey compost)...The llama and rabbit were not broken down, round droppings added to the MM.

I've done some research on here and saw where some of you recommend Tomato and Vegetable Allive products from GardensAlive.com I've ordered that, and will continue to treat the soil and plants.

I guess sometimes no matter what you do, nature tells you something different.

Sometimes s*** happens. Or doesn't happen. Most problems seem to be with inadequate compost for whatever reason. So you can only do what you can do. Looks like the problem is solved. If you are doing home compost you should be ok in the future.

You seem to have replaced the stuff you washed out by too much watering .. Your hubby is right ...let the beds dry out a bit .

It's a pity that in Mel's book the words of " You can't over water MM " are used for they are frequently taken out of context by a lot of people who fail to realize that he is talking of using a cup full of water to each plant when the plant needs it ....

Not as some would have ..... " give it a bath every day & night till you prematurely wash the nutrients out of the mix in next to no time & keep the roots absolutly sopping wet .

This last bit will also remove some of the vital air ( consisting of various elements in it not just oxygen ) that the bacteria need to work to break down the compost to make the humus that the plants feed on .

plantoid wrote:You seem to have replaced the stuff you washed out by too much watering .. Your hubby is right ...let the beds dry out a bit .

It's a pity that in Mel's book the words of " You can't over water MM " are used for they are frequently taken out of context by a lot of people who fail to realize that he is talking of using a cup full of water to each plant when the plant needs it ....

Not as some would have ..... " give it a bath every day & night till you prematurely wash the nutrients out of the mix in next to no time & keep the roots absolutly sopping wet .

This last bit will also remove some of the vital air ( consisting of various elements in it not just oxygen ) that the bacteria need to work to break down the compost to make the humus that the plants feed on .

Yea I know Plantoid.. i am guilty of that one.. washing the nutients away.

being home alot these days makes me do too uch to the garden.. like over watering..

Interesting about watering too much washing nutrients away... what about a situation where there are days and days and DAYS of rain? How do you handle that so you don't have the same issue?

Topdress with more compost is my solution.

Also being my first year at SFGing I have the same concerns. I would like to have obtained the compost blend recomended, but had to use what I could find.

I also may have to supliment my SFG with fertilizer if things don't grow well. My opinion is composting is the most important part of SFGing....

One thing I have noticed.. I have 20 Broccoli plants.. Most are strong and healthy.. But the several that are not , have some holds in ther leaves. makes me believe the health of the plant protects them..

The Garden of Eden man says bugs drown if they eat the leaves of his plants..the strong healthy ones have so much water in them, the bugs can't handle it.

Very interesting.

This is my first year as well and i seem to have the opposite problem. The tomato plants one day are nice and full the nest they are yellow and droopy. The wife tells me not enough water. I tell her the instructions on the seed pack or in one of teh books i have says deep water once a week. Well i figured out that this is some general rule.

Here in GA i deep water every other day, and some of my bigger tomatos are atill splitting from not enough water! We got a couple days of rain here as well. All i did at the time was put down a thick layer of mulch to keep the ground from getting beat up and washed away. The plants will survive. I was thinking of covering them with a tarp to keep them safe but did not.

It does say that you can not water to much with MM. I think it is becaus the water washes right through like a sponge. When the ground is full it passes through so even though you watered alot yesterday you still need to water again today.

Just my thought on over watering.

Good luck

Mike

marietta mike wrote:
Here in GA i deep water every other day, and some of my bigger tomatos are atill splitting from not enough water!

Good luck

Mike

Uh, I was under the impression that cracking/splitting results from the skin's inability to stretch properly with growth - some varieties are more prone to it than others - and is aggrevated by too much water (heavy rain or irrigation).

GG

This is my first year SFG and I used a few different types of compost but most were purchased from big box stores and in hindsight, were not good at all (in fact the leftover N'Rich, which is mostly bark now I realize, has been relegated to mulching only). It wasn't until I started using organic fertilizers that my garden stopped looking sickly and stunted and started to thrive. I went through a bag of Kellogg organic fertilizer first and then switched to Happy Frog Tomato & Vegetable when I found it locally. I've also used the Jobe's organic fertilizer spikes for vegetables in some of my containers.

Not ashamed at all to have deviated from The Book. I am trying to make my own compost and source more locally but until then, the fertilizers have been doing a great job and I feel confident about the ingredients. I'm also happy that my plants are thriving!

Tomatoes split not so much from too little or to much water as inconsistent watering.

Good response CindyLou. I knew that but forgot and thought that it was too much water. You are right, it is inconsistent watering!