Alfalfa pellets

[cjp1953]

Garden not looking as well as I would like.Some of my tomato plants are not looking that good.We have not had very much rain and growth is slow.They were planted 2 weeks ago today.I put some Tomato tone around them and scratched it in last week but hoping the alfalfa pellets will kick start the growth and green them up some.Pepper are doing good as some have small peppers already.Today I spread pellets through out and then watered them in very well.Garden has that barn yard smell, pellets swelled up and look 2 times there size.This should help the soil as an amendment and feed the worms.This is my 3 season of no till.

[b54red]

Originally Posted by cjp1953

Garden not looking as well as I would like.Some of my tomato plants are not looking that good.We have not had very much rain and growth is slow.They were planted 2 weeks ago today.I put some Tomato tone around them and scratched it in last week but hoping the alfalfa pellets will kick start the growth and green them up some.Pepper are doing good as some have small peppers already.Today I spread pellets through out and then watered them in very well.Garden has that barn yard smell, pellets swelled up and look 2 times there size.This should help the soil as an amendment and feed the worms.This is my 3 season of no till.

Without adding amendments to the soil with no till it is harder to maintain decent levels of potasium and nitrogen. You might want to try using something like Texas Tomato Food which is a well balanced fertilizer for tomatoes and pretty natural to boot. Rain will sap both of those key elements as they both leach out of the soil so you probably need to add something that will get down to the roots in liquid form.

Bill

[cjp1953]

I was thinking the same thing,I did put some alfalfa pellets out in April but we had a rainy month and I kind of thought it may have washed out.I had a winter cover crop of tillage radishes,their taproot goes pretty deep only downside I saw was the leaves broke down very fast in March and I had bare ground in April.Past years I planted vetch and winter rye that left plenty of top cover.May add vetch with the radishes this fall so I have more leaf mass for mulch in the spring.Thanks for the response I'll look into your suggestion and see if I can find it.

[Worth1]

I'm thinking the soil may be getting depleted somewhat.
Just a wild guess.

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by cjp1953

Garden not looking as well as I would like.Some of my tomato plants are not looking that good.We have not had very much rain and growth is slow.They were planted 2 weeks ago today.I put some Tomato tone around them and scratched it in last week but hoping the alfalfa pellets will kick start the growth and green them up some.Pepper are doing good as some have small peppers already.Today I spread pellets through out and then watered them in very well.Garden has that barn yard smell, pellets swelled up and look 2 times there size.This should help the soil as an amendment and feed the worms.This is my 3 season of no till.

You mentioned not much rain. Do you also water them?

[clkeiper]

two weeks ago the heat probably had stressed them greatly. are they looking any better this week? last night was pretty cool for us. Do you have at least the tomatoes mulched with straw or something ( even shredded news paper works well for this)? that will help to keep the soil soft around the plant and to preserve moisture too.

[cjp1953]

I did not mulch thinking the soil was not warm enough but have straw.I might have time Saturday if I don't work to get it down,the weather is going to warm looks to be dry.Looking at things today and it does look better.I hope the alfalfa helps in the near future.

[Worth1]

You cant think, 'you have to know, that is what a good thermometer will tell you.
I use mine religiously.

[clkeiper]

Worth is correct... get a soil thermometer. they are actually relatively inexpensive you just need to get one for the garden. it has a metal shield to protect the glass from hitting rocks or just hard dirt and breaking.
Kevin wanted to plant corn a while ago thinking maybe the soil was warm enough behind the one greenhouse... I told him it was still too cold without even going and looking. he wanted to plant corn but I told him not to do it... "it was too cold still!" so he went and got the trusty thermometer and checked... it was 36°... he waited. he didn't believe me and I couldn't make him take my word for it.

[cjp1953]

That's a good idea.I'll call Copley Feed and see if they carry them.Brakes went out in my car tonight.I just got home after having it towed to a garage.Had to call off work tomorrow to have it fixed.If it not one thing,it's another.

[Worth1]

I use a thermometer I use in meat and other stuff.
You can calibrate it.
Got two of them.

One is an AcuRite and the other is a Taylor.

https://www.acurite.com/acurite-stai...ter-00640.html

http://taylor-enviro.com/kitchen/the...mometer-1.html

[cjp1953]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I use a thermometer I use in meat and other stuff.
You can calibrate it.
Got two of them.

One is an AcuRite and the other is a Taylor.

https://www.acurite.com/acurite-stai...ter-00640.html

http://taylor-enviro.com/kitchen/the...mometer-1.html

Thanks Worth,I'll pick one up today

[Nan_PA_6b]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

He didn't believe me and I couldn't make him take my word for it.

Ain't that always the way...
Nan

[clkeiper]

always. he will call the neighbor ( very young man) and ask him something I already answered but not my word until he hears it from him. whatever!

[cjp1953]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

Worth is correct... get a soil thermometer. they are actually relatively inexpensive you just need to get one for the garden. it has a metal shield to protect the glass from hitting rocks or just hard dirt and breaking.
Kevin wanted to plant corn a while ago thinking maybe the soil was warm enough behind the one greenhouse... I told him it was still too cold without even going and looking. he wanted to plant corn but I told him not to do it... "it was too cold still!" so he went and got the trusty thermometer and checked... it was 36°... he waited. he didn't believe me and I couldn't make him take my word for it.

Thank you clkeiper,I need to go to Walmart for some soil.I plan on planting some cucumbers in a 6 gal bucket and need some more potting soil.Never tried this before.Ran out of room in my small garden.Still waiting to hear about my car.Need it Monday for work. I put some straw down that I had around my tomato plants today since I was off.Am bagging my grass clipping and will spread them when they turn brown around the garden.