Hey everyone, I'm a new gardener and I'm really struggling with my plants. I planted garlic last October and while it sprouted, it wilted quickly. I tried again in February, but the new garlic also wilted and died overnight. I'm in zone 7a and planted everything directly in the ground. I've also planted ginger, but that didn't sprout at all. I direct sowed some beans that came up but haven't progressed in weeks. My burgundy beans bloomed but remained short, and none of my pepper plants sprouted. I had a little lettuce that got eaten by pests, and my tomato plants are still tiny, despite starting them in seed trays and watering daily unless they're still wet. I moved them outside once it hit about 50°F at night.
Here's a breakdown:
- Tomatoes (grew but tiny)
- Squash (grew but stagnant)
- Cucumbers (never sprouted)
- Peppers (never sprouted)
- Lettuce (eaten by bugs)
- Spinach (didn't grow)
- Beans (started then stopped)
I bought strawberries and blueberries, which are doing okay, but my peach tree seems dead, while my raspberries are hit or miss. I fertilize weekly with "farmers secret plant booster," and my soil is super acidic. I got a soil tester and purchased a soil revitalizer. I don't use pesticides, instead, I'm attempting companion planting, diatomaceous earth, and attracting birds. I've even tried reducing watering for my tomatoes, but they just seem to flower without growing taller. My flowers are thriving, but my food plants are a total disaster. Any advice would really help!
2 Answers
Have you considered simplifying your approach? Instead of trying to grow too many plants at once, maybe focus on one or two types to really nail down what they need. Your houseplants are thriving, so you might just need to give outdoor plants a little more attention to detail. Try to concentrate on those tomatoes or peppers and really understand their requirements before branching out to other crops.
It sounds like you're going through the typical struggles of a first-time gardener! Don't worry; many of us have been there. It could be that the timing of your plantings is off, which is common in beginner gardens. Have you checked your soil quality? Knowing whether you have clay, loamy, or sandy soil can make a big difference. Sometimes local agriculture extension offices offer affordable soil testing and can give you advice on improving it. Also, make sure to give your indoor seedlings plenty of warmth and good lighting; things like squash and cucumbers need warmer soil temps to flourish!
Thanks for the advice! That makes sense about soil. And I'll look into getting it tested. Just trying to learn as much as I can this year!
Yeah, I think you're right. I might be trying to do too much too fast. I’ll just focus on the success of a few plants and see how that goes!