Tags

We had nearly a week of colder weather. 40s at night. Will my garden survive?

Tuesday Jul 27, 2010

I planted tomatoes, cucumbers, bush beans, peppers (bell), eggplant, onions, and strawberries along with a few herbs. I covered the eggplant and peppers on the coldest nights. But the cucumbers aren’t looking the greatest and the bean’s leaves look pale. The tomatoes are fine. They just seem to have not grown an inch. We had a really warm day yesterday and I noticed one of the tomato plants has flowers on it already! It’s only 10" high! This can’t be good, can it? Should I fertilize everything? When I planted I added compost manure to the soil, but I’m not sure this was enough so seeing how stressed the plants were by the cold. I normally don’t fertilize until I start seeing the fruit forming. For the most part the onions look good and so do the strawberries and herbs.
What should I do about the rest? The weather looks warm for here on out. And what’s up with that tomato plant flowering so early?

Similar Posts:

6 Comments »

Ginny H:

I am in Minnesota and we are experiencing the same weather. Cukes like to be very warm, and will just sit until it warms up. I am waiting to plant them and melons until it does and they grow a little more in my hothouse. The squash plants are going in today since they have gotten so big, I cant wait anymore. I would not fertilize at all right now. You risk burning the plants since they are not actively growing. Just wait. My beans are also sickly yellow. I don’t usually plant until June 1st(beans, corn), but I gave it shot and have learned once again that here in MN(just north of St Paul) it is a waste of time. That’s why I start many things in pots on May 1st. As for the flower on the tomato, remove it. You don’t want that tiny plant setting fruit, it needs to put its energy into growing foliage. Good Luck! Hopefully, warm weather is finally here!!

July 27th, 2010 | 18:01
La Vie Boheme:

Actually..you are supposed to stop fertilizing once the plants starts to set fruit. As long as their is no frost, most everything should be OK. Cucumbers are picky…all you can do is wait and see.

July 27th, 2010 | 18:01
BruceLee l:

hold that fertilizer while plants are stressed or unknown condition, water in the morning and keep check with status. If frost damage, we know there’s no solution. at this point tomato is concerned the most.

July 27th, 2010 | 18:01
Anna Rose B:

Mine is, but it’s tough.

Got to watch for fungus growth and mildew. Aaaaaghhh! The life of a gardener. Last year a hard freeze on Easter, and this year — a month of VERY COOL nights.

No storms, so there was a "trade off". Good luck. You may have to trim some of the weaker leaves back, but they will be fine.

July 27th, 2010 | 18:01
pcbeachrat:

Tomato plants should not even be planted untill the minimum temperature at nights are no less than 50 degrees..peppers and cukes shouldnt be planted untill outside temperatures are around 65 to 80 degrees outside..this will stunt the fruiting process and photosynthesis of the plant giving a poor harvest if any at all….I grow a garden 12 months out of the year and start my seeds under lights ..even when the chance of last frost have vanished..I do not plant my plants outside untill the temperatures above I listed are met….Heres some pictures..I do know veggie gardening very well..

Concerning tomatoes and temperature
http://groups.ucanr.org/mgnapa/Articles/Best_Time_to_Plant_Tomatoes.htm

Concerning peppers..

The Growing Season

If compost and manure are added to the vegetable bed each year, then additional fertilizing shouldn’t be necessary for the pepper plants. However, the seedlings can be fertilized with fairly high levels of nitrogen to encourage vegetative growth in the beginning. Once the plants are established, however, more fertilizer should not be applied unless the plant shows nitrogen deficiency such as yellowing leaves or stunted growth.

In fact, once the plant begins to flower, excessive nitrogen will cause the blossoms and small pods to drop off since the plant will put its energy back into vegetative growth instead of fruit production. For maximum fruit to set, night temperatures should be between 65 and 80 degrees F. Fruit won’t set at all if night temperatures rise above 86 degrees F or daytime temperatures rise above 95 degrees F because excessive transpiration results in blossom drop.

The soil around the pepper plant should remain moist but not wet. Flood irrigation using a garden hose in furrows between the rows can be used. However, soaker hoses or drip irrigation lines are more efficient and don’t waste as much water. Overhead watering should be avoided because it encourages fungal diseases and the leaf canopy will block the water and result in uneven watering.

Copied from the link below..please take note on the fertilizing with nitrogenn..pepper plants detest it ..all the nitrogen they need is from a good organic compost..they need phospherous and potasium when they start to bloom to set fruits..if you use high nitrogen yopu will get legggy plants with no fruits are the blooms will drop off on you..Eggplant and cucmbers are about the same as well..none of these produce very well when planted too early..check out my garden pictures below..

http://www.mastergardeners.org/projects/pepper99.html

July 27th, 2010 | 18:01
jt c:

The plants should grow out of it but slow down on the fertilizer until they at least they start growing.

July 27th, 2010 | 18:01
Leave a Reply

Comment

Please Note : This site is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your paediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a qualified medical doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding any member of your family’s condition.