Raised bed question

hoping4tomatoes · July 4, 2012

Hi there! I am an organic gardener. I have raised beds. I added composted manure, happy frog tomato and vegetable, and organicare pure. I also use compost tea. However my plants don't look lush and don't load up with fruit. It's hot here now, so I don't want to stress my plants, but can I do anything to get them super healthy as they will last until mid October at least. Can I top dress with composted manure this late? I would say its just Oklahoma heat ( I know blossoms won't set in heat), but I've seen pics of other Oklahomans plants! Thanks for your help!

simmran1 · July 4, 2012

hoping,

I don't see 'mulched with' or 'mulch' in your OK raised beds. Clean straw, grass clippings w/o anti-weed chemicals, or peat moss are standard mulching procedure. Other than that I wonder if soil moisture is adequate, so if you could dig at an end or something to see if the soil is dry. A PH test- (soil test) maybe in order. With all those potential nutrients just plain ole H2O might bring them back. Personally, I see a difference w/a pinch of kelp powder in a watering can. -R

hoping4tomatoes · July 4, 2012

You're right! I am a dutiful waterer, and monitor soil moisture, but maybe I'll add grass clippings. Can they be straight from mowed?

feldon30 · July 4, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoping4tomatoes

You're right! I am a dutiful waterer, and monitor soil moisture, but maybe I'll add grass clippings. Can they be straight from mowed?

You definitely need mulch. That can be straw, hay, or grass clippings, as long as the clippings aren't from a yard that has used Weed-n-Feed or a lawn service in the last 90 days.

zabby17 · July 7, 2012

Agreed on mulch---a raised bed will dry out faster than the ground, even, though you did say you monitored the moisture.

And, btw, it's not too late to top-dress with composted manure. In my experience, the better one's raised bed soil, the better one's tomatoes---there's pretty much no such thing as too much compost for tomatoes.

Good luck!

Z

CrazyAboutOrchids · July 7, 2012

I'd get your soil tested. I have a raised bed garden and garden organically as well. I was so surprised at my soil results when I had multiple samples of my beds tested this year. I have great organic matter in the beds from all the compost we've been adding in, but the n-p-k was all off kilter. Just a suggestion.....

hoping4tomatoes · July 7, 2012

Thanks all! Good suggestions! Will try''

July 4, 2012	#1
hoping4tomatoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oklahoma 7B Posts: 74	Raised bed question Hi there! I am an organic gardener. I have raised beds. I added composted manure, happy frog tomato and vegetable, and organicare pure. I also use compost tea. However my plants don't look lush and don't load up with fruit. It's hot here now, so I don't want to stress my plants, but can I do anything to get them super healthy as they will last until mid October at least. Can I top dress with composted manure this late? I would say its just Oklahoma heat ( I know blossoms won't set in heat), but I've seen pics of other Oklahomans plants! Thanks for your help!

July 4, 2012	#2
simmran1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Iowa Zone 5 Posts: 305	hoping, I don't see 'mulched with' or 'mulch' in your OK raised beds. Clean straw, grass clippings w/o anti-weed chemicals, or peat moss are standard mulching procedure. Other than that I wonder if soil moisture is adequate, so if you could dig at an end or something to see if the soil is dry. A PH test- (soil test) maybe in order. With all those potential nutrients just plain ole H2O might bring them back. Personally, I see a difference w/a pinch of kelp powder in a watering can. -R __________________ Tomatovillain

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July 7, 2012	#5
zabby17 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario Posts: 211	Agreed on mulch---a raised bed will dry out faster than the ground, even, though you did say you monitored the moisture. And, btw, it's not too late to top-dress with composted manure. In my experience, the better one's raised bed soil, the better one's tomatoes---there's pretty much no such thing as too much compost for tomatoes. Good luck! Z

July 7, 2012	#6
CrazyAboutOrchids Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Zone 6 - CT Posts: 155	I'd get your soil tested. I have a raised bed garden and garden organically as well. I was so surprised at my soil results when I had multiple samples of my beds tested this year. I have great organic matter in the beds from all the compost we've been adding in, but the n-p-k was all off kilter. Just a suggestion.....