Some good, some strange? Somebody help me!

Hi - This is my first year for a SFG… actually except for one year with herbs, eggplant, cukes and peppers in some upside down thingys, my only gardening experience was with tomatoes and ornamentals. My squashes, herbs, lettuce, etc… look great. the squash, melons, and cukes are outgrowing the trellis in 3 weeks time, and today I spotted my first 2 inch cuke. My issues are with my tomatoes and peppers. The new growth (especially on the tomatoes) is spindly and tightly curled. The older growth is quite large and lush. They are setting blossoms and I have some fruit. Is my mix too rich? and if that is it, what do I do about it? Is there something I can add? I didn't have ready compost, so I had to do the blended thing… I got as many different kinds as I could, but who knows what is really in them? Also, I have been reading about the earwig problems, and I am just wondering if anyone has tried food grade diatomaceous earth for insects? It is supposed to kill almost anything, and from what I have read, beneficial insect tend to avoid what you have dusted with it.

Square Jo wrote:Hi - This is my first year for a SFG… actually except for one year with herbs, eggplant, cukes and peppers in some upside down thingys, my only gardening experience was with tomatoes and ornamentals. My squashes, herbs, lettuce, etc… look great. the squash, melons, and cukes are outgrowing the trellis in 3 weeks time, and today I spotted my first 2 inch cuke. My issues are with my tomatoes and peppers. The new growth (especially on the tomatoes) is spindly and tightly curled. The older growth is quite large and lush. They are setting blossoms and I have some fruit. Is my mix too rich? and if that is it, what do I do about it? Is there something I can add? I didn't have ready compost, so I had to do the blended thing… I got as many different kinds as I could, but who knows what is really in them? Also, I have been reading about the earwig problems, and I am just wondering if anyone has tried food grade diatomaceous earth for insects? It is supposed to kill almost anything, and from what I have read, beneficial insect tend to avoid what you have dusted with it.

Welcome to the forum, Square Jo!

Sounds to me like you are off to a good start with your SFG. When you made your blended compost, were you able to find five types? That's the best recipe, but even then sometimes the composts we buy are lacking. The only way to be sure would be do do a soil test. Can you tell us about the composts you used to make your "blend"?

Meanwhile, let's look at some other possibilities...

How's the rain situation there in PA? Are you watering regularly between rains? If the upper leaves on the tomato plants are curling, my first thought would be maybe they just need some water. Dig down in your soil and see if it's damp or dry. If it feels dry trying watering and see if the tomatoes and peppers recover. You can't over water Mel's Mix as the book says. You could might also try a fish emulsion fertilizer too with the watering. If lack of water is the problem, your plants should perk up in a week or so.

About the diatomacous earth. I do use it to battle earwigs and flea beetles, but I try to limit it its use. The earwigs are the worst on my Swiss Chard, but refuse to coat the leaves with it. The buggers stay down between the stems in the daytime, so I try to target the dust there -- but that's an adventure in itself! There has been lots of discussions about DE here, if you have some time do some forum search on it and read more. I also sure some others will be along here to add there comments as well.

Again, welcome to the forum. It's a great place to network and learn along with your fellow SFG'ers!

Square Jo

Glad to have you join us. This is a really great group of people and I am sure you will find them helpful too.

Please keep us updated on your progress and share pictures!

Again, Welcome.