Knowledgebase
Plants barely growing after over a month #874291
Asked June 23, 2024, 1:17 PM EDT
I recently moved to Erie and the house has several existing raised beds that needed to be rebuilt. I did this over the winter and made them 18 inches deep. In March, I bought 4.5 cubic yards of planters mix from Lee Hill peat and was assured the soil included AI organics and it was good to go. I planted lettuce seed in March. After a month it sprouted and never went past that. I wondered if the soil was too heavy so i added 2 cubic yards of coconut coir and mixed in a couple bags of compost. I planted over two dozen seed starts of tomatoes, eggplants abs squash May 15. After a month, there was barely any growth of those plants. Based on advice, I took a soil sample and sent it to csu but they told me it will me 6 weeks so I’m still waiting. After talking to a master gardener at the farmers market, he told me to fertilize. On June 15, I fertilized with miracle grow organics. As of June 23, barely anything has grown after being in the ground for over a month with 9 hours of sun, fertilizer and daily water. I am at my wiits end on what is happening here. Please help.
Weld County Colorado
Expert Response
Your plants look pretty healthy. The hot weather we've been having is a stressor for people and plants. That will slow them down.
Let’s start at the beginning. A container eighteen inches deep is ok, but it has to have good drainage. Nine hours sounds like enough sunshine, assuming it’s not too much and you see sunscald (which looks like humans who have gotten sunburned and blistered).
Reference Colorado State University Extension's bulletin: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/container-gardens-7-238/.) Another research-based publication from Colorado State University Extension (https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/annuals-perennials/1001-container-gardening-basics/) suggests: “Potting soil should be porous, include organic material for moisture as well as free of weed seeds. Vermiculite, perlite, or water-holding polymers may be mixed in prior to planting to extend the time between waterings. It is important to check the soil daily, watering as needed.”
I am not familiar with Lee Hill peat. Because it says “PEAT”, I wonder if the soil is too acidic. Does the package tell you the pH? What about the compost you added? Can you tell us more about your soil mix now? What is the soil texture look like to you now? Light and fluffy like chocolate cake (but please don’t eat the soil, ok?)?
That second resource talks about water. Do you use potable city water or well water? (Again, check bulletin 7.238 for further discussion.) You said you’ve been watering daily. With our temps in the 90s, your plants may need even more water!
Here's one way to check your plants’ water needs: take a long -blade screwdriver and poke it into the ground around a plant. Obviously, if the tool is wet and muddy when you pull it out, the soil is too wet. If you have trouble getting the tool into the ground, the soil is too dry and needs watering. If you pull up the screwdriver and a few bits of soil remain, then you're probably ok. Or you can feel the soil with your fingers. (Again, the chocolate cake test.)
https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/724.pdf will give you five pages of VERY detailed information for growing specific plants in containers.
I know, Ms. Hughes, we've offered you more questions, rather than one perfect answer.
If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ask Extension again.
Sue, Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
Ms. Hughes,
Sounds like you think your newly-purchased “planters mix” does not meet your expectations and that you are doing everything possible to amend it.
CSU recommends potting soil. It’s light and fluffy. Like Chocolate Cake, not Rocky Road.
Have you considered talking to the supplier? Maybe you can get a refund or replacement. (May I suggest checking out new material before you accept delivery?) I know, Ms. Hughes, suggesting that you start over is not what you wanted to hear.
You mentioned observing shot holes in the leaves of your eggplants. I wonder if the symptoms you see on your eggplant are indicative of flea beetles. See https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05592.pdf
I am so sorry you have to go through this!
If you have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact CSU Extension again.
Sue, Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
Hi Sue, I finally got my test results back from CSU but I'm not sure how to interpret them. These results are prior to me fertilizing with organic fertilizer twice. My plants have since grown slightly since the last post, but not much. Also, I know the best PH for tomatoes is to be in the 6 range and it looks like my PH is too high. Other than that, I'm confused on what to do next based on these results. Can you help?
Hi, Meghan,
My name is Kathy. I am handling Ask Extension issues this week.
After reviewing your & Sue’s correspondence, it appears we need to look at your soil test results.
Unfortunately, the screen shot you attached is too fuzzy to see the details.
Could you possibly scan or photocopy the results and send us a more readable copy?
Thanks,
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for following up. They are attached. Thank you for help;ing me figure this out.
Meghan
July 18, 2024 This is Sue, back again on Ask Extension assignment.
The dirt-under-fingernails crowd of Colorado Master Gardeners has weighed in for you, Meghan. Most of their suggestions are documented here https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/annuals-perennials/1001-container-gardening-basics/
and here https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/container-gardens-7-238/
- Is your soil too hot? With the entire container above ground and exposed to the sun, it may be getting too much sun. They said you may be surprised at how hot the soil on a 95 degree afternoon.. The galvanized steel reflects heat. Nearby light-colored buildings, fences, garden structure and rock pathways may reflect light onto containers, making them hotter. Portable containers can be moved out of the sun, of course, because vegetables need only about 6 hours of sunlight. *
- Is drainage ok? Plants do not like to have “wet feet.” Maybe drill a hole in the side of a container?
- In this hot weather, water may be needed frequently, so check soil twice a day. Simple moisture test here in paragraph #6: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/watering-a-home-landscape-during-drought-7-240-2/
- Fertilize weekly with soluble liquid fertilizer to replenish what plant is using from soil. Several successful vegetable gardeners mention using a spray of water-soluble (such as MiracleGrow) fertilizer, per package instructions. Do not use organic fertilizer, CSU says, because it takes too long to activate and it may smell sour (or fishy, or worse).
- At the end of the growing season, plan to either discard or amend your soil: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/choosing-a-soil-amendment/
Without being able to see results of the soil test you had done, Meghan, I cannot make specific suggestions.
[*I asked “Veggie Dave” about what you could do to make the soil in you containers cooler. He grinned and said to put curtains on the sides. I sarcastically asked what kind of fabric he’d suggest and of course Dave said, “Flowers.” This is not Colorado State University Extension research-based information. ;-) ]
I hope this helps! Happy watering and fertilizing.Hope you get lots of tomatoes. Our first ones ripened this afternoon!
Sue
Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
