Marianne's Response

Check your soil in an unproductive vegetable garden

First year gardener, nothing is growing. I started tomato, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, lettuce, and green bell pepper seeds inside during winter. We had an unusually long winter so I was afraid to put them outside too soon, as there was always a threat of another frost. I planted them in a raised bed and they seemed to be progressing, but now they are just growing lots of leaves and no produce. I guess I will chalk this season up as a failure but what do I need to do to have a better outcome next year? I also bought a Jalepeno plant, put it in a pot, and it is doing great.

Posted by Nancy Baer on June 21, 2014

Marianne's Response

I am going to guess your soil is lacking in some essential nutrient. Lots of leaves and no produce often signals a soil high in nitrogen. Did you add lots of manure? Add some all purpose Osmocote plant food and see the plants start producing. You may want to get a soil test kit and find out if your soil is too high in acid or lacking in potassium or phosphorus. Don't give up! We are all learning, and I know you can expect an improvement next year. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti