I need some advice on my garden situation! About a month ago, I rototilled my garden with a mix of horse manure and compost. I started indoor seeds for watermelon, beans, corn, squash, tomatoes, and peppers and properly cared for them before transplanting them outside. But after a week of heavy rain in Pennsylvania, many of my plants, especially the squash, tomatoes, watermelons, pumpkins, and cucumbers, are wilting and dying, while my corn and peppers seem fine. I tested my soil before transplanting, and everything was ideal. I did another test today, and it still looks good. Can anyone help me understand what might be going wrong?
3 Answers
Did you remember to harden off your plants? It helps them adjust to outdoor conditions. If you skipped that step, that could explain the wilting! Just keep in mind that rabbits and other critters could be an issue if you’re working outside.
Definitely sounds like a drainage problem. While you're focused on soil fertility and pH, it's crucial also to look at how wet the soil is—especially after a week of rain. I had a few cucumbers die on me after heavy rain right after transplanting, too. Keep an eye on that moisture level!
It sounds like you might be dealing with some drainage issues. You mentioned that the soil is fertile, but if it’s too moist from all the rain, that could be causing your plants to wilt. Also, did you harden off your plants before putting them in the ground? It can help reduce transplant shock. I usually use Bonide Root n Grow for the first couple of weeks after transplanting to give them a boost.
I actually didn’t test the drainage before planting, but I used seedling soil for the transplants. Next time, I’ll definitely do that to avoid issues!
Yeah, I didn’t harden them off because I was worried about the rabbits and groundhogs getting them. I realize now that might have been a mistake.