I hope the pictures will work. This is what we thought would have been a nice garden with lots of yummy tomatoes and peppers...Well, it wasn't! Even though for a while it looked pretty. They started to die shortly after taking this picture. Hopefully we'll do better next year.
Sorry to hear they died Melissa, I'm sure next year will be a roaring success with maybe a little help from friends here :-D
Oh Melissa, don't let a bad season bring you down! A little help from your pals here at Gardenstew and I'm sure it will be fabulous next year! What exactly happened to them?
My tomatoes weren't a success this year either Melissa as our summer was just soooo wet. Let's hope things improve for us both next year.
What caused them to die? Weather, temperature, inexperience, bugs? I've lost count of all my failed tries, but often I can't do much to improve things. When "summer" is 12-14 deg C and rain, not much will grow.
That is a nice little garden you've got prepared for them there. I'm sure they'll do better next year!
Well, they died probably form a number of reasons. We didn't do anything to the soil before we planted. My husband felt it was just fine the way it is, but he really just didn't want to buy any new planting soil or fertilizers.... We thought maybe there was under watering and over watering... But I think it really had to do with poor soil.
I am sorry you didn't have a good year with your garden. I just stuck 2 tomato plants on the side of the garage and they did so well. I had bought what you call Garden Soil from a company and they add things to make it richer and it sure worked. We had quite a few truck loads brought in when we did the flower beds but it was worth it. Maybe if you compost in the area for a bit it would help..keep trying . Sherry8
I can't grow tomatoes outdoors here, its just to cold, even when the sun is up 24 hours a day. I have to try to grow them indoors or in a greenhouse, which i don't have yet btw. so indoors it is,, BUT,, i did grow 2 tomato plants that reached a height of almost 7 ft. tall an not one single tomato....lol. So don't feel bad, you did way better than i did, an theres always next yr. right!!
What a beautiful little garden bed you've created, much like one I tried one year. Found out it needs more water than a level bed, because the moisture evaporates out the sides as well as the top of the soil. Since you're just starting on your soil, may I suggest the easiest, cheapest and healthiest way to treat it? First, do not be tempted to use chemical fertilizers, as they are unnecessary, expensive and have questionable effects on our health and the earth. They do not contain all the little trace elements plants require. Instead, get a bag of good old-fashioned cow manure and mix it into your existing soil. Not fresh, stinky cow manure... it should be old and dry and odorless, available from any garden centre and is almost the best compost there is. Then take all your vegetable peelings, egg shells, etc., that normally mess up your kitchen garbage (no meats or fish) and start a simple little compost pile, directions are on-line for many methods, choose the one that is easiest for you. Whenever you get a chance (every spring and fall maybe) stir that into the soil too., or you can always add a little more cow manure if you don't compost. Then maybe a little mulch between the plants to help keep the soil moist (I like straw, leaves, lawn clippings, brown cardboard)... and your garden will love you and put on a fabulous show. Send us the pix to enjoy, and have fun !!!
For those interested there is a great on-going topic about composting/compost piles here: http://www.gardenstew.com/about8028.html
