Northern weather

[MurphOnMillerAve]

My tomatoes have done nothing this year, as last. I'm wondering where I went wrong. Garden was liberally fertilized with composted manure, plenty of water, plenty of sun. Plants are rather spindly...not sure what's up.

Stake 'em?

Did you dig the original holes deep enough to allow for plenty of root growth?

Did you thoroughly mix and assimilate that manure with the available thoroughly chopped up soil?

Was the manure from horses? That's the "sweetest" and best able to be assimilated. If you used chicken droppings, that's too "hot" for assimilation quick enough to not burn tomato plants.

If you added manure after the seedlings were in the ground, a circle of it would have to have been a good distance from the plant, otherwise, the watering / rain could burn the plants with the too raw manure.

[robert.]

Early season night time temps were to low. That stunted them. With the next few nights dropping into the low 60's high 50's that will finish them off. I grow almost 50 plants every year. By this time of year i have tomatoes coming out of my ears. I give them away. Tomatoes not my ears. This year people are looking at me with puppy dog eyes. Thinking they did something wrong because they have not received any tomatoes yet. I told my post man it was a real bad year. Within a few days the rest of town should know. I wont dig them up yet. I have hope for a late season recovery.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I have hope for a late season recovery.

Good chance of that - Summer is not over yet....

[healey36]

My tomatoes have done nothing this year, as last. I'm wondering where I went wrong. Garden was liberally fertilized with composted manure, plenty of water, plenty of sun. Plants are rather spindly...not sure what's up.

Stake 'em?

Did you dig the original holes deep enough to allow for plenty of root growth?

Did you thoroughly mix and assimilate that manure with the available thoroughly chopped up soil?

Was the manure from horses? That's the "sweetest" and best able to be assimilated. If you used chicken droppings, that's too "hot" for assimilation quick enough to not burn tomato plants.

If you added manure after the seedlings were in the ground, a circle of it would have to have been a good distance from the plant, otherwise, the watering / rain could burn the plants with the too raw manure.

Same process I use every year, but it's been lousy. I was beginning to wonder if the hybridized plants they are selling have run their course.I think next year I'm going to dig up the beds and cart off most of the soil, replacing it with new. Maybe it's crop-rotation issues, lol...

[robert.]

I know. I pick tomatoes right up till first frost but nothing beats the first crop of ripe ones. Whatever grows now wont be the best. I don't have many buds to flower. Funny how some things have good years and bad years yet nothing slows down zucchini.

[robert.]

"I'm going to dig up the beds and cart off most of the soil, replacing it with new. Maybe it's crop-rotation issues, lol..."
You can send a soil sample off to pen state ag dept. They will tell you what your soil needs. If you have a local agway store They'll have kits to mail away. Last time i used one it was $10.00. Buy your plants from a farmers market in late May or June. Lots of good heirloom plants out there. if you cant find them try here. http://www.chileplants.com/ I know it says chile plants but she sells tomatoes also.

[E7]

I know. I pick tomatoes right up till first frost but nothing beats the first crop of ripe ones. Whatever grows now wont be the best. I don't have many buds to flower. Funny how some things have good years and bad years yet nothing slows down zucchini.

Can't go along with that!! I buy some of the very best tasting tomatoes roundabout the middle of September from a Mennonite/Amish (not sure which) farmer about 10 miles up the road from where I live. They are about 4 inches in diameter, and are the best tasting that I have ever eaten. Not sure what variety they are (I asked and got no answer), but they are superb. 50 cents each.

For sweet corn, either 'Montauk' (yellow/white) or 'Incredible' (yellow).

I'll agree regarding zucchini!

Squash......nothing like butternut!

[healey36]

"I'm going to dig up the beds and cart off most of the soil, replacing it with new. Maybe it's crop-rotation issues, lol..."
You can send a soil sample off to pen state ag dept. They will tell you what your soil needs. If you have a local agway store They'll have kits to mail away. Last time i used one it was $10.00. Buy your plants from a farmers market in late May or June. Lots of good heirloom plants out there. if you cant find them try here. http://www.chileplants.com/ I know it says chile plants but she sells tomatoes also.

The University of Maryland Extension Service offers same...maybe I should give them a shot. I've consulted them a number of times over the years. I've got a Red Oak that is blighted, which they diagnosed for me. Also had issues with viburnum that turned out to be animal-urine related. Those guys are a great resource.

[robert.]

Don't be surprised if the Amish guy is selling outsourced tomatoes.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Don't be surprised if the Amish guy is selling outsourced tomatoes.

Or he's getting them from the Amish that use my fields - one year they paid the rent in sweet peppers.........

[Roy]

I really like tomatoes, but they're just one of several foods I can't have, on account of my meds. That would be alright, if the stuff still worked. But, it doesn't.

[E7]

Don't be surprised if the Amish guy is selling outsourced tomatoes.

I know they buy stuff at auction. For the price, and the way they taste, I don't care how/where he gets them. His daughter, who usually trots out when you drive up is easy on the eyes!

[robert.]

sept. 1. 51 degrees @ 7.30 am

[Rufus T. Firefly]

sept. 1. 51 degrees @ 7.30 am

Cool start for Sept here in the DC area, too. Rain on the way....

[robert.]

I was in that area all last week.Also did a quick trip to Richmond and front royal.