Thanks for your question.

I don’t have a single answer to your question in which I would have complete confidence. The fact that you have other plants under the same situation argues against soil problems. We normally suggest that bush beans are the best option for containers. You have that base covered. Nevertheless, here are my further thoughts:

1). Good drainage is important for your containers, which you seem to have. Just make sure that the drainage holes are open and unplugged. Sometimes, I use some screening on the insides of the drainage holes in my containers.

2). You didn’t specify what kind of liquid plant food you are using. Whatever it is, it should contain between 10% and 15% nitrogen. The phosphate and potassium contents are less important. I would up your fertilizer applications to once a week. Beans and especially zucchini are “heavy feeders”.

3). You could replant things though it’s getting on in the season. Germination would not be the best as we enter the hottest part of the summer. Frankly, I don’t know what you would gain by doing this. Your current plants are not dead, just slow growing. I suggest you stay the course with what you already have.

The following will provide more information on these and related points:

https://northerngardener.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Vegetables-for-Containers.pdf

https://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/mhferguson/articles/page<personal data hidden>27

Good luck. Please get back to us with any further, related questions. Thanks for using our forum.

Thanks for your response.

Your remarks about fertilizer are well taken. 12% nitrogen content is spot on. These powdered fertilizers usually call for applications between one and two weeks. For some vegetables, weekly fertilizations can lead to the burning of certain plants. Perhaps this is what you observed last year? Yet, frequent additions of fertilizer can stimulate things. So I would suggest adding your fertilizer on a weekly basis but at half the recommended strength. After each addition of fertilizer, water it in so that the fertilizer reaches the roots rather than just accumulating on the soil surface. Keep an eye on things. If increased fertilizing is effective, you should see positive results within a couple of weeks.

Good luck. Please keep us apprised how things progress. Thanks again for consulting us.

Thanks for your response. 

Using the liquid form of Miracle Gro will be just fine. I use that product all the time. Look at the product label to see the recommendation for application. I’m looking now at the product label for one type of Miracle Gro. It says to mix 1/3 capful (4 tsp) in 2 gallons of water to feed 20 square feet of garden. I would suggest then that you mix 2 tsp in 2 gallons of water for 20 square feet of garden.

Again, get back to me if you have any questions. Good luck!!!