Diagnose soil imbalance

[journey11]

The plants in this raised bed are doing really poorly. I planted broccoli, cabbage and kohlrabi transplants on April 15th and they've seen little growth. You can see the discoloration in the pics.

This bed has always done well for me. I add compost & manure every year or so, but what I bought at TSC this time was either not fully broken down or too rich. I put 4 bags of each on it and it's a 4'x16' bed. I looked online and came up with it either being too low on magnesium or phosphorus (not sure which) or unable to take it up. Tried watering them with Epsom salts and then also tried amending around each plant with bonemeal. Neither really seems to have helped. These cabbages on this one end look ok compared to the others.

The soil is the same all the way across though. Maybe I didn't turn it in well enough. I was in a hurry. What should I do to fix it? Rip everything out and start over? The baby broccoli have given up and already started making tiny florets.

 

[Smart Red]

It was mentioned earlier that cold weather can effect leaf color and plant growth. . .

 

[digitS']

Don't necessarily give up on the broccoli, Journey.

Usually, I will have broccoli heads in early July. In June 2015, we had some of hottest temperatures I have ever experienced. The broccoli all formed heads, at about 10" tall. I pulled some but just cut buds off the others. Some came out as about the largest and most productive broccoli plants I have ever grown!

Usually, I am pulling all broccoli a month or so into summer. The plants I left produced big side shoots late really did super.

No real ideas on a deficiency altho I have read that there are micronutrients that they will come up short on.

Steve

 

[journey11]

It was mentioned earlier that cold weather can effect leaf color and plant growth. . .

We have had a very cold and wet spring. Maybe that has done it.

 

[seedcorn]

Check pH first. In corn purpling is lack of phosphorus intake.

 

[Hal]

Check pH first. In corn purpling is lack of phosphorus intake.

I second that pH test suggestion. It is always a good first step.

 

[Smart Red]

Howdy, Hal! Good to hear from you.

 

[catjac1975]

Broccoli, ect. love limestone and are heavy feeders.You can still add lime and water it in. Are they your seedlings, or did you buy them? If they were pot bound from the store they often will button up like that. I could not grow cauliflower for years until I found seed for the northeast. I have had 2 great years in a row since using the correct seed. I grow several types of broccoli from seed and I will get an occasional buttonhead. Some broccoli are branching and will give you more small broccoli shoots throughout the summer.. Take off that little broccoli and see if it continues to grow. Some pests in the root ball will hinder growth also. I just grow a lot and pull those that do not thrive. If the heat came in fast after planting , that could also cause it.

 

[journey11]

Broccoli, ect. love limestone and are heavy feeders.You can still add lime and water it in. Are they your seedlings, or did you buy them? If they were pot bound from the store they often will button up like that. I could not grow cauliflower for years until I found seed for the northeast. I have had 2 great years in a row since using the correct seed. I grow several types of broccoli from seed and I will get an occasional buttonhead. Some broccoli are branching and will give you more small broccoli shoots throughout the summer.. Take off that little broccoli and see if it continues to grow. Some pests in the root ball will hinder growth also. I just grow a lot and pull those that do not thrive. If the heat came in fast after planting , that could also cause it.

I did sprinkle some pelletized lime when I added the compost/manure. I forgot to mention that. I ended up having to buy transplants this year. Got almost nothing started from seed with all the craziness going on. They were called "baby broccoli", which I didn't notice until I got them home, but it looks like I got "fairy" broccoli instead...ha. I guess I will clip the little florets and see what happens. At least I'll get one serving out of them.

I'll get that pH checked this afternoon.

 

[catjac1975]

I did sprinkle some pelletized lime when I added the compost/manure. I forgot to mention that. I ended up having to buy transplants this year. Got almost nothing started from seed with all the craziness going on. They were called "baby broccoli", which I didn't notice until I got them home, but it looks like I got "fairy" broccoli instead...ha. I guess I will clip the little florets and see what happens. At least I'll get one serving out of them.

I'll get that pH checked this afternoon.

I never check the ph-I just add lime. It may not be too late to plant some more of better quality varieties.If they are pot bound, pull the roots apart to loosen them up.