3 weeks later

buttaflie143 5/10/2011, 4:11 pm

Its been three weeks since I planted the seedlings I purchased and they don't appear to be doing to well. 3 weeks later 675916

Cucumber 4/29

3 weeks later Plante19

Cucumber today

3 weeks later 2011-027

Tomatoes 4/29

3 weeks later 429_af18

Tomatoes today

3 weeks later 2011-028

Squash 4/29

3 weeks later 429_af19

Squash today

3 weeks later 2011-029

Tril 5/10/2011, 4:16 pm

I found this on why tomato leaves turn yellow... http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/yellow-tomato-leaves.htm. It's a start.

buttaflie143 5/10/2011, 4:25 pm

Thanks Tril,
I am beginning to wonder if using the Ladybug blend instead of bonified MM was a good idea. It has to be the soil because I gave my neighbor my leftover seedlings and her same plants are doing great. I'm sad. After reading the article, I know water isn't the issue, so tomorrow I will begin soil testing.

**Furbalsmom** 5/10/2011, 4:29 pm

Buttaflie, your MM loks like it may be a bit dry (could just be the picture). Remember, you can't overwater MM.

I would first water it well. Once a leaf turns yellow, it rarely turns back to green. If no new leaves turn yellow, your situation is resolved.

buttaflie143 5/10/2011, 4:39 pm

I have been watering once daily, so should I do it twice a day, morning and afternoon? What do you suggest?

**Furbalsmom** 5/10/2011, 4:46 pm

Does the top of your MM look dry, is the MM moist an inch below the surface? Or was it just the picture?

I am not sure it is the number of times a day, so much as the amount of water they get.

There is no magic number, but I would make sure they are thoroughly moist to begin with, remember you can't overwater as the excess will drain out.

buttaflie143 5/10/2011, 5:03 pm

It is moist beneath the surface, but just as you stated, there can never be too much water. Smile

So it won't hurt anything to give it a try.

**walshevak** 5/10/2011, 5:04 pm

Try some compost tea. If the issue is water, you have watered the plants, if the issue is nutrients, you have fed the plants.

But I'm betting it is a combination of both.

Kay

BackyardBirdGardner 5/10/2011, 5:37 pm

buttaflie143 wrote:I am beginning to wonder if using the Ladybug blend instead of bonified MM was a good idea.

I am wondering about this part here. How is it different than "bonafide MM?"

**Furbalsmom** 5/10/2011, 7:04 pm

Buttaflie purchased the LadyBug brand of Mels Mix, an authorized brand. I believe she is comparing that to hand made MM.

middlemamma 5/10/2011, 7:29 pm

This wouldn't be the first time an authorized distributor selling bagged MM has issues with the medium. I recall something from last year. 3 weeks later 601593

Keep us informed as to what your soil tests turn up buttaflie.

**camprn** 5/10/2011, 7:40 pm

Tril wrote:I found this on why tomato leaves turn yellow... http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/yellow-tomato-leaves.htm. It's a start.

My $0.02, I agree, it looks like there is a deficiency of nutrients. They really are not looking distressed as from underwatering. I know you are working on making compost so perhaps compost tea is probably not the best option for you right now. A liquid fertilizer, organic source or not, it's your choice, but that should help perk them up. Please, for your plants health, read and follow the label directions, if using a purchased product. Let us know how it goes. Wink

**WardinWake** 5/10/2011, 8:04 pm

Buttaflie143:

If your weather is like mine the cooler than normal spring has slowed down some plants. I expect that your plant roots are growing like crazy just waiting for warmer weather.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.

NHGardener 5/10/2011, 8:25 pm

Oh no, buttaflie! I sure hope you can salvage it. If the plants have done great for the other person, then it must be your soil.

I think I would be tempted to take everything out and put it back in pots, empty the soil out, redo with new soil, and put the plants back in. Either that or try to enrich it somehow from the top.

After all your hard work... {hugs}

buttaflie143 5/10/2011, 8:30 pm

middlemamma wrote:This wouldn't be the first time an authorized distributor selling bagged MM has issues with the medium. I recall something from last year. Keep us informed as to what your soil tests turn up buttaflie.

BackYardBirdGardener, Furb was right. I was comparing the premixed blend to a handmade blend.

And yes Middlemamma, I will definitely keep everyone informed.

WardinWake, yes the weather has been a bit crazy, but my neighbor has the same weather (even if her garden has a different microclimate) and her plants are thriving.

Camprn, I am going to try a bit of compost tea first and see how it goes. But I will certainly thoroughly read the instructions if I should decide to use a liquid fertilizer.

Thanks to all of you for the suggestions.

buttaflie143 5/10/2011, 8:32 pm

middlemamma wrote:This wouldn't be the first time an authorized distributor selling bagged MM has issues with the medium. I recall something from last year. Keep us informed as to what your soil tests turn up buttaflie.

BackYardBirdGardener, Furb was right. I was comparing the premixed blend to a handmade blend.

And yes Middlemamma, I will definitely keep everyone informed.

WardinWake, yes the weather has been a bit crazy, but my neighbor has the same weather (even if her garden has a different microclimate) and her plants are thriving.

Camprn, I am going to try a bit of compost tea first and see how it goes. But I will certainly thoroughly read the instructions if I should decide to use a liquid fertilizer.

Thanks to all of you for the suggestions.

buttaflie143 5/10/2011, 9:31 pm

NHGardener wrote:Oh no, buttaflie! I sure hope you can salvage it. If the plants have done great for the other person, then it must be your soil.

I think I would be tempted to take everything out and put it back in pots, empty the soil out, redo with new soil, and put the plants back in. Either that or try to enrich it somehow from the top.

After all your hard work... {hugs}

NH Gardener,
I'm really tempted to take out everything and start over. First adding compost to each square and a little fertilizer and then purchasing and planting new transplants.

NHGardener 5/10/2011, 10:38 pm

If it makes you feel any better buttaflie, those of us up here in the frozen tundra haven't planted a single summer vegetable yet, so you'd still be ahead of us!

I envy your long growing season. And it leaves rooms for do-overs.

buttaflie143 5/10/2011, 10:59 pm

Exactly what I needed to hear to be reminded to just be thankful. Thank you.

AZDYJ2K 5/10/2011, 11:15 pm

How many boxes do you have? If you have multiple boxes you may want to do some control tests (got this from Boffer). Leave one box as is and then do the amendments in some of the others. Or if you only have one box, do some tests on certain squares.

I started SFG last year and had issues with my garden. I used the Garden Time pre-mixed MM and I question if the compost in it was as good as the mix your own MM with 5 different composts. The plants I had grown were very scrawny and did not look very healthy.

After I added some compost to it on my fall planting, things got better. I'm hoping that this year will also improve. I have read on here that MM gets better over time as long as you add compost each time you plant.

Don't get discouraged, you certainly have the drive to be a successful gardener from what I have seen on your posts and you seem to be doing things right.

Goosegirl 5/11/2011, 2:38 pm

NHGardener wrote:If it makes you feel any better buttaflie, those of us up here in the frozen tundra haven't planted a single summer vegetable yet, so you'd still be ahead of us!

I envy your long growing season. And it leaves rooms for do-overs.

+1!

buttaflie143 5/11/2011, 6:35 pm

I got the soil tested. It is ok, could use some nitro. They think the real problem is the cold snap we just had. After deliberation, we decided my garden's micro climate must be a bit cooler due to its position next to the woods and creek that run behind my house. They probably won't recover and if they do, they probably won't produce as well as they could have and this includes my cucumbers and okra. So now the question is, do I start over with new transplants?

NHGardener 5/11/2011, 6:46 pm

If they probably won't recover, and they probably won't produce as much if they do recover, then I would replant. And before I replanted, I'd throw on an extra layer of compost or other nutritional covering, just in case. To tuck those babies in nice and cozy. Smile

Who tests your soil there? NCSU?

Tril 5/11/2011, 7:19 pm

I would start fresh with new transplants... and it wouldn't be "starting over" since the ones you have didn't thrive. It happens. Rip those babies up and plant some healthy robust plants so you can get the results that reflect your efforts! How many did you give away?? A lot? Maybe you could get a couple back?? LOL

NHGardener 5/11/2011, 7:24 pm

Haha Tril - I can see her digging up her neighbor's plants to take them back home! rofl

"Sorry - I need these back - hope you don't mind."

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