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I have questions about my tomatoes, peppers, and one squash. I have a new garden with new soil and a new irrigation system. I'm trying to figure eve...
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Need help in garden #873661
Asked June 18, 2024, 4:07 PM EDT
I have questions about my tomatoes, peppers, and one squash. I have a new garden with new soil and a new irrigation system. I'm trying to figure everything out, but some veggies are doing great and others, like those in the pictures, look like something is wrong. The squash in question is with another squash in the same bed and the other one is doing fine. I have four rows of tomatoes and some are doing great while others have curled leaves and look like they might be dried out. The soil is continually moist but not soaking wet. All my peppers are a light greenish yellow and small. I have never had problems with growing peppers, so this is a first. They are growing peppers on them, but the plants themselves are not full. I'd appreciate any help you can give. All plants have full sun.
Yamhill County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Jeanine,
I think the key in this situation is the new soil. Something is not quite right nutritionally for the plants to thrive. Also we have had a cold wet spring/early summer. That alone makes our summer loving vegetables stressed. It could be a combination of factors.
I'll start with the peppers first. It appears that they would benefit from some liquid fertilizer. (Liquid because the nutrients are quickly available to the plants.) Lack of nitrogen causes pale green leaves. There are many great options on the market. A general all-purpose vegetable fertilizer will help. Follow the directions on the container as you don't want to go the other way and apply too much nitrogen so that all you have is vegetative growth and no fruit! You might need to fertilize every couple of weeks until the roots reach deeper. Keep an eye on the foliage as your guideline.
Are you growing 2 different types of squash. That could explain the difference is vigor. You could try fertilizing the ailing squash, or simply replace it. If you choose that option I would give the soil a good stir or digging as there might be a pocket of something which doesn't agree with the plant. Then again, fertilize it.
Are the tomatoes all the same variety? Different varieties have different susceptibility to stress. One reason tomatoes curl leaves is in response to stress. University of Massachusetts Extension has a publication on "Tomato Leaf Roll". Let's go for the simplest fix first, and that is to fertilize in addition to your watering. There are tomato specific fertilizers available which work well.
Just to cover more options as to why your plants are not thriving, read through this OSU Extension publication, "Herbicide-Contaminated Compost and Soil Mix". It seems to me that if this were the case then all of your plants would be affected. However, the information is good to have on hand.
Hopefully, soon your garden will be thriving and a reflection of your care and gardening skill.
I think the key in this situation is the new soil. Something is not quite right nutritionally for the plants to thrive. Also we have had a cold wet spring/early summer. That alone makes our summer loving vegetables stressed. It could be a combination of factors.
I'll start with the peppers first. It appears that they would benefit from some liquid fertilizer. (Liquid because the nutrients are quickly available to the plants.) Lack of nitrogen causes pale green leaves. There are many great options on the market. A general all-purpose vegetable fertilizer will help. Follow the directions on the container as you don't want to go the other way and apply too much nitrogen so that all you have is vegetative growth and no fruit! You might need to fertilize every couple of weeks until the roots reach deeper. Keep an eye on the foliage as your guideline.
Are you growing 2 different types of squash. That could explain the difference is vigor. You could try fertilizing the ailing squash, or simply replace it. If you choose that option I would give the soil a good stir or digging as there might be a pocket of something which doesn't agree with the plant. Then again, fertilize it.
Are the tomatoes all the same variety? Different varieties have different susceptibility to stress. One reason tomatoes curl leaves is in response to stress. University of Massachusetts Extension has a publication on "Tomato Leaf Roll". Let's go for the simplest fix first, and that is to fertilize in addition to your watering. There are tomato specific fertilizers available which work well.
Just to cover more options as to why your plants are not thriving, read through this OSU Extension publication, "Herbicide-Contaminated Compost and Soil Mix". It seems to me that if this were the case then all of your plants would be affected. However, the information is good to have on hand.
Hopefully, soon your garden will be thriving and a reflection of your care and gardening skill.
