sad fate of my attempt at a garden

[hunterjumper999]

my garden was about 80' by 40' and i planted row upon row of tomatoes , beans, peas and watermelons.

i have harvested 1 melon, the rest exploded. literally on the vine pop pop pop ... someone said nitrogen too high?

I got 1 gallon of pink eyes

NO beans

5 tomatoes then the plants died while we were away ( petsitter did not water)

NO peppers

6 pints okra

and the corn all died before making ears.


i am salvaging the seed and trying to replant in raised beds near my walkway and doing a major redo of the big garden next year i guess.

First frost is october 20 according to the callender but i know last year it was still 80's at that time...

do you think im safe to replant ( from seed)

tomatoes

pepper (bell)

cabbage ( later i'm starting indoors now)

broccoli( same as above)

peas

beans


I don't care if i get a small harvest i just want SOMETHING !


ETA- most of the garden is HAY grass at this point

i didnt realize i had to compost the horse poop so it sprouted and was REALLY difficult to eradicate.

 

[vfem]

Well, sorry you came to join us on such a sad note.

anyways!

I'm happy to see you got something though, we have all had our failures, and even some of us with YEARS behind us of gardening can have a horrible failing year.

Don't give up!

I do want to ask what zone you are in? Like you we get a late frost date here and we're easily in the 80's into November, some years anyways. I just planted a second planting of beans, cucumbers and even sprite melons.

If I were you and doing tomatoes, try some already started from a big box store like walmart or Home Depot or a local nursery. If you do have fall tomatoes you can start like I do, they will still be for sale in your area.

 

[hunterjumper999]

I'm in zone 8... Columbus ga. I need to edit my profile and add that in I guess.

 

[Kim_NC]

Don't give up! The best future gardens come from learning as we go - learning from our mistakes, or from difficult weather, maybe disease, etc.

If I only had a nickel for every plant I killed or that died on it's own! But with perserverance, we've eaten lots and lots of good food.

Try again....you'll be glad you did.

 

[lesa]

Welcome! Welcome! No doubt gardening can be frustrating- but, you've got the spirit- don't give up!! Everything is on sale right now-go ahead and buy all the plants you can and try again. Maybe in the fall, you might have to cover for a night or two- but you've got time...You might also want to use this time to smother those weeds- maybe cardboard, old carpet, etc. Then, you will really be ready for next year. Good luck! Let us know how you make out.

 

[wifezilla]

Ok...if I understand correctly your bedding material was "too hot". But now it has set for a few months and is probably much better.

It isn't too late to plant peas, beans, cucumbers, zuchinni, lettuce, and other fast maturing plants. You still have time for kale and asian greens too. I really like Baker Creek's bok pak choy. I am getting ready to plant more and I am in zone 4/5.

Not sure about the tomatoes and peppers. If you want to try another tomato, I would do a cherry type. Super Sweet 100's mature quickly. I didn't plant any this year but grew some good ones in previous years.

I always seem to run out of time for peppers, but our zones are so different you might be able to pull it off.


As for end of the year clearance plants...some of my best growers were from the scratch and dent bin All my fruit trees were "charlie brown" trees bought for only a few dollars. That's how I got my grape vines too. One of my clearance apple trees is so loaded with fruit it is ridiculous

 

[ducks4you]

hunterjumper, I am a horse owner who uses manure and stall clean-up in my gardening. I have lived with my horses in the back yard for 10 years now, been gardening for about 7, and this year is my most serious attempt.
FIRST, !!!!!!!!!
SECOND, this is a great place to learn the 'how-to's'.
THIRD, don't give up on your tomatoes--look for a few clearance plants, because they stores are Now GIVING them away. They are native and VERY HARDY plants. You can still get fruit from them. ESPECIALLY since you are in Zone 8--I am in the border of zones 5-6, and MY growing season (for tomatoes) will only last until the middle of October!! I would check YOUR frost date....
NOW, I'm going to post some articles for you to read (and to keep this post from turning into a BOOK). If you have any specific questions that I can help you with, please PM me ANYTIME!!
Handling Manure
http://www.almanac.com/garden/charts/manure.php
General Gardening Advice
http://www.almanac.com/content/beginners-vegetable-garden
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/companion-planting.html
http://www.gardensablaze.com/Companions/CompanionYield.htm
http://www.weather.com/activities/homeandgarden/garden/education/gardenawrainy.html
http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/a/Amending_Soil.htm
http://www.almanac.com/garden/starting-garden/planting-tools
Tomato Care
http://www.tomatocasual.com/2008/05/06/boost-your-tomatoes-with-companion-planting-part-1/
http://www.tomatocasual.com/category/blog/
Composting and Fertilizing
http://www.gardeningclub.com/community/forums.aspx?g=profile&u=98022
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Orga...tter-Way-to-Fertilize-Your-Garden.aspx?page=3
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Orga...tter-Way-to-Fertilize-Your-Garden.aspx?page=4
Starting early NEXT year
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2007-02-01/Garden-Know-how.aspx

I use what I have, which is horse manure and chicken manure--don't spend ANY money or any other type--ask Wifezilla, 'cause we're both cheap/frugel!!!
Here is a little bit of basic advice:
Planting/Seeding: Plant or seed just before a light rain. Seeding is easiest on a calm day. For plants that need protection from heat and wind, plant on a cloudy, calm day or late in the afternoon.As a general rule for warm-weather annuals, delay sowing seed or planting until after the last frost.

Transplanting: Transplanting is ideal after a light rain and during calm conditions--it's easy to dig and the roots will be hydrated.

Applying sprays: Apply on a calm day. Avoid applying before heavy rains.

Fertilizing: Fertilize after a light rain or just prior to a light rain.

 

[dragonlaurel]

My guess is that you could replant now. Started plants might be a safer bet for for the hot weather veggies.

The peas, beans, cabbage and broccoli will like the cool/cold weather. You could start them from seed and just protect them if the forecast says a freeze is coming. Lettuces and greens like growing in the fall too, but the lettuce might not want to sprout in this heat. I'll try starting mine indoors and transplanting it out.

Good luck!

 

[HunkieDorie23]

I am very very sorry. I am having a terrible time this year with melons and cucumbers. Pumpkins and squash are not great either. Just one of those years.

If you put in another garden maybe go a little smaller until you get it figured out.