Back to Eden Gardening and Hugelkulture and other non-conventional garden methods

[Leahs Mom]

@KDOGG331
Is it possibly a need for magnesium? It seems that all the "old-timers" I know say that magnesium deficiency in the soil is the most common problem with tomatoes. Using epsom salt is an easy cure.

Here are some symptoms of need for magnesium:

• Leaves turn yellow
• Leaves turn yellow in between the veins (interveinal chlorosis)
• Leaves curl
• Plants become spindly
• Fruit production decreases
• A soil test reveals a magnesium deficiency

Here's one place that talks about it.
http://www.tomatodirt.com/epsom-salts.html

There are lots more out there if you google.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Maybe? I'm not really sure.

We only planted them like a week ago and I thought maybe they were just shocked from the transplant or something or overwatering but maybe it's one of these things instead?

They're in raised beds with a mix of like 3 soils, though they all look the same lol but i remember we used some i think miracle grow organic raised bed soil, another miracle grow one, and some other brand

I'll try to go to Lowe's maybe Monday to get a picture of the soill but its supposed to have fertilizer in it?

here's the bed

https://www.amazon.com/PL72X36X20-Planter-72-Inch-36-Inch-14-Inch/dp/B008TVEVGG

 

[ladyearth]

Maybe? I'm not really sure.
there is a whole forum on "container gardening" on the giantatic "Gardenweb.com" site just a saying

We only planted them like a week ago and I thought maybe they were just shocked from the transplant or something or overwatering but maybe it's one of these things instead?

They're in raised beds with a mix of like 3 soils, though they all look the same lol but i remember we used some i think miracle grow organic raised bed soil, another miracle grow one, and some other brand

I'll try to go to Lowe's maybe Monday to get a picture of the soill but its supposed to have fertilizer in it?

here's the bed

https://www.amazon.com/PL72X36X20-Planter-72-Inch-36-Inch-14-Inch/dp/B008TVEVGG

 

[lazy gardener]

My tomatoes are blooming. Peppers starting to bud. Potatoes look awesome. Very little insect damage (so far). Second planting of Fortex pole beans are finally up. Sugar snaps are blooming. Cukes look absolutely fantastic. Funny, last year, I could hardly grow a cuke. with all of the cold and wet we've had this season, I can't figure out why the cukes are doing so well.

Today, I tried a little experiment: simply tossed some radish seeds into the wood chips as I was giving the tomatoes a bit of water. If the germination rate is adequate without opening the chips up to access the soil, it will make BTE incredibly easy. Think of the possibilities: Instead of removing the chips to get to the soil to loosen up a bed for carrots, I could simply mark out a 32" x 4' area, and toss the seeds directly onto the chips, and give them a good watering! If radish makes a good showing, I'll find a little spot and try sowing some late carrots into the chips. The garden still needs a lot of chips. I picked up a truck load of chips and spread them this weekend, too hot this morning to go for more, but may go after supper if weather cooperates.

 

[chickengr]

My tomatoes are blooming. Peppers starting to bud. Potatoes look awesome. Very little insect damage (so far). Second planting of Fortex pole beans are finally up. Sugar snaps are blooming. Cukes look absolutely fantastic. Funny, last year, I could hardly grow a cuke. with all of the cold and wet we've had this season, I can't figure out why the cukes are doing so well.

Today, I tried a little experiment: simply tossed some radish seeds into the wood chips as I was giving the tomatoes a bit of water. If the germination rate is adequate without opening the chips up to access the soil, it will make BTE incredibly easy. Think of the possibilities: Instead of removing the chips to get to the soil to loosen up a bed for carrots, I could simply mark out a 32" x 4' area, and toss the seeds directly onto the chips, and give them a good watering! If radish makes a good showing, I'll find a little spot and try sowing some late carrots into the chips. The garden still needs a lot of chips. I picked up a truck load of chips and spread them this weekend, too hot this morning to go for more, but may go after supper if weather cooperates.

if you plant in the chips you will get seeds only. last year my soil was poor with a lot of shavings and all the plants turned to seed.

 

[chickengr]

new rain, new wilt:

but I chopped more sage. these leaves are from the other plants, just infected. the old ones are still green.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Like leaves or ground/rubbed sage? I might as well just buy the plant though, the spice/herb is expensive lol

 

[ShrekDawg]

Like leaves or ground/rubbed sage? I might as well just buy the plant though, the spice/herb is expensive lol

 

[Leahs Mom]

@lazy gardener
Wonderful!

On the seeds - have you ever read any of Ruth Stout's books? I just read one of hers (very entertaining) and she tried planting various seeds as experiments. She decided that she needed to part the mulch and plant. If the seeds are small, the mulch needed to be off them until they germinate.

The other thing she concluded was that she could plant LARGE SEEDS right on top of the ground and pile her mulch on top and they'd grow. However...her mulch is hay - 8" thick. (That is not sprayed and doesn't have vetch seed in it!) I think the hay would be different than wood chips in that regard. She planted potatoes that way - right on the ground then hay piled on top. And any other large seeds you can think of. If I remember correctly, she did corn that way too.

I'll be interested to see what happens with yours. But if they germinate, wouldn't that say that weeds will germinate too?

 

[lazy gardener]

Ruth Stout was my first "Book mentor" for deep mulch gardening. That was a very long time ago! I have 2 of her books. And, yes she's entertaining. Yes, with her method you need to get down to the soil. But BTE is a bit different as the mulch is made up of a composite of many different sized materials: starting with some sticks and large wood chips, chunks of bark, progressing all the way to fine silty powdered bark bits. So, while the larger pieces tend to stay on the top, there is enough of the finer material mixed in, and enough moisture, that weed seeds (and therefore, veggie seeds by process of reasoning) will sprout. To remove the weeds, all you need to do is scuff the chunky stuff around a bit.