I've been struggling with my garden this spring due to unusually cold and wet weather. My plants, even the quick-growing cucumbers, aren't thriving as expected. After a break in the rain, I applied some fish emulsion and other fertilizers, but it started pouring again. How does everyone handle fertilizing in such conditions? Would it be better to use solid organic fertilizers on top of the garden beds instead of liquid ones?
4 Answers
I'm in zone 6b too, and my garden looks more like zone 4a right now! Everything is growing super slowly, from veggies to annual flowers. I added some Espoma Garden-Tone to my compost when planting, but it might have washed away with all the rain. On the bright side, the slower growth allows me to keep an eye on yellowing leaves and trim them off. I’m thinking of trying some quick-acting fertilizers like humic acid or Miracle-Gro in between rains to help them along.
For next year, a tip I’ve read is to bury fish a foot deep in the soil where you plan to plant your veggies. That way, they can decompose and provide nutrients without getting washed away!
I live in eastern Missouri, and I made the switch to granulated fertilizer about three weeks ago. My plants are looking pretty good overall. My tomatoes aren’t thriving as fast as my peppers, but they’re still fruiting. This spring has definitely been chilly and wet.
A lot of organic fertilizers really should be mixed into the soil before planting. You don't need to fuss over your plants too much as long as you're not planting in sand. Generally, they should get through to harvest without constant feeding.