EGGPLANT & PEPPERS IN ORGANIC COMMUNITY GARDEN - Ask Extension
I HAVE 2 PROBLEMS:1. MY EGGPLANTS ARE GROWING SLOW WITH LOTS OF BLOSSOMS, BUT ARE NOT SETTING FRUIT.2. MY PEPPERS ARE BARELY GROWING.WHAT IS THE BEST ...
Knowledgebase
EGGPLANT & PEPPERS IN ORGANIC COMMUNITY GARDEN #412289
Asked July 06, 2017, 6:51 PM EDT
I HAVE 2 PROBLEMS:
1. MY EGGPLANTS ARE GROWING SLOW WITH LOTS OF BLOSSOMS, BUT ARE NOT SETTING FRUIT.
2. MY PEPPERS ARE BARELY GROWING.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADDITIVES THIS TIME OF YEAR? WE ARE ORGANIC. USED COFFEE GROUNDS IN THE SPRING. NO OTHER SOIL AMENDMENTS. SOIL TEST CAME OUT AWESOME 3 YEARS AGO. ROTATING CROPS.
GARDEN IN THORNTON, CO.
THANKS,
CATHY MILLET
<personal data hidden>
<personal data hidden>
1. MY EGGPLANTS ARE GROWING SLOW WITH LOTS OF BLOSSOMS, BUT ARE NOT SETTING FRUIT.
2. MY PEPPERS ARE BARELY GROWING.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADDITIVES THIS TIME OF YEAR? WE ARE ORGANIC. USED COFFEE GROUNDS IN THE SPRING. NO OTHER SOIL AMENDMENTS. SOIL TEST CAME OUT AWESOME 3 YEARS AGO. ROTATING CROPS.
GARDEN IN THORNTON, CO.
THANKS,
CATHY MILLET
<personal data hidden>
<personal data hidden>
Adams County Colorado
Expert Response
Cathy,
There are many things that could be causing problems for you in terms of your vegetable garden. You said that you haven't amended at all since you applied coffee grounds this spring. Both eggplant and peppers need nitrogen and it's hard to say that they got enough from the coffee grounds you applied. Was this the first year you amended with coffee grounds? Coffee grounds have a borderline Carbon to Nitrogen ratio, around 20:1. This means that the microbes in the soil use the available nitrogen to break down the carbon and there is much less available for the plants. This can help with the garden over time, but you still need to supplement with nitrogen. You could put an organic fertilizer down (bone meal, fish emulsion, blood meal etc.) and see whether you get some good growth from that. Additionally, ensure that your plants are getting sufficient, but not too much water. Well watered soil should hold together but crumble upon pressure. If you want to discuss this in further detail please give me a call.
Hope that helps, happy gardening!
There are many things that could be causing problems for you in terms of your vegetable garden. You said that you haven't amended at all since you applied coffee grounds this spring. Both eggplant and peppers need nitrogen and it's hard to say that they got enough from the coffee grounds you applied. Was this the first year you amended with coffee grounds? Coffee grounds have a borderline Carbon to Nitrogen ratio, around 20:1. This means that the microbes in the soil use the available nitrogen to break down the carbon and there is much less available for the plants. This can help with the garden over time, but you still need to supplement with nitrogen. You could put an organic fertilizer down (bone meal, fish emulsion, blood meal etc.) and see whether you get some good growth from that. Additionally, ensure that your plants are getting sufficient, but not too much water. Well watered soil should hold together but crumble upon pressure. If you want to discuss this in further detail please give me a call.
Hope that helps, happy gardening!
