23,948 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening
That's a very broad question. What kind of fertilizer? Are there instructions on the package? 5-7 inches sounds about right as far as distance. Not sure if I would put it into 'holes.' Just spread it evenly around and work it into the top of the soil.
If you'll go over to the Growing Tomatoes forum here (linked on this forum's front page) you'll find numerous threads running right now on your question about pruning. They even have a detailed FAQ all about it and the effects it has.
Pruning the ends off of leaves (leaf branches) normally poses no problems as long as you don't get carried away. Make a note for next year to increase the spacing. I know Sq Foot gardening recommends 2 sq foot each but many fine 3 sq' works much better.
Dave
PS: Just in case you didn't know there is also a SQ Foot Gardening forum here that deals with the issues unique to that form of gardening.
Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato forum
>>To clarify, IS there a benefit to spraying the leaves with a soap solution if you don't see any bugs on them?
If you know what aphids look like, then probably not. If you don't know what they look like, then maybe :).
Mine were the color of the leaf, and smaller than the head of a pin, and buried deep in the crevices of the undersides of the leaves.
A lot of responses. I have not read all of them but here is my 2 cents worth of suggestion:
If I were you, I would just direct sow and forget those plants. They don't look healthy for whatever the reason. It could possibly be stressed and will not develop into vigorous plants. My cucumbers were cold stressed too, I just pulled them and planted another series.
I would say fertilize and water more often. Also mulch the hills with straw, pine needles, to keep the roots cooler and maintain moisture longer.
I think on the trellis they loose water much faster under Texas sun as opposed to laying down on the ground. That is one reason they need moisture.
PS: Post a picture , if you may. So people here can help you better.
In case anyone is wondering, especially since they're owned by Monsanto and there's a ton of misinformation out there about them...Seminis's registered trademark on their X3R stack isn't a patent on resistance to bacterial speck.
It's simply the registered trademark on the "name" they've given to the trait stack they developed and bred into their plants. It's like "Certs mints with Retsyn"...rather than "Certs mints with copper gluconate and flavoring". Anyone can put copper gluconate and flavoring into their mints...they can't call it or market it as Retsyn, though.
Thanks for all the great advice. I had never heard of SVB until joining garden web. I did surgery on a declining pie pumpkin this morning. I pulled out two white squishy bugs and fed them to the chickens.
I just planted a second round of squash in a different bed but don't want the tender new plants to be eaten from within before fruiting. I checked for eggs this morning and did not find any. I have been using neem oil to combat aphids on my brussels sprouts. Does anyone know if neem oil helps combat SVB or squash beetles?
I had fun frying them buggers when I got home yesterday!
When I put the torch on the plants the adults came out in numbers and got fried also!
I got a lot of them, but I'm sure some escaped!
Hishigata, I read somewhere that neem helps. I plan to get some on the way home.
What does the raised bed soil consist of? Is that mulch on top? How's the drainage? How much rain did you get? Looks like they survived the frost ok, but you are right, they are very small. Are they possibly rootbound? What did you transplant them from, and how long ago?
At the very least that plant needs a good dose of fertilizer. Like Ed said that soil looks awfully wood chippy. If it is like that throughout then much of the nitrogen in the soil is locked up by the decomposing wood chips.
Lots of rain, especially in poorly draining soil, quickly leads to yellowing of leaves and the root rot that develops in overly wet soil can lead to stunted plants.
If it were my bed I'd mix in a good dose of of a dry nitrogen fertilizer throughout the bed and see if things didn't improve quickly.
Dave
Here is a link that might be useful: Growing Tomatoes forum here