New Vegatable Garden is Not Producing

I enlarged my garden this year. I initially had 4 raised beds which were filled with soil that I purchased in bulk but this year I took out a small pear tree and made an additional 4x10' bed (but not raised, just ground level) I added some manure and compost but I'm thinking that it was not nearly enough to this native soil. I live in Southern New Jersey where the soil is pretty sandy. Anyway, I'm not getting any production from my zucchini, green peppers, onions and limited cukes which are all in this new section. Tomatoes were producing but having trouble with bottom rot. I've read that perhaps the soil is lacking calcium so I've sprayed the plants with a solution. Any suggestions out there?

I was so excited because this was the first year I started my plants from seed indoors. It was so much fun watching the seedlings grow and now I'm not getting the benefit of produce. SAD FACE!!!

How frustrating!

Have you tested your soil? I would buy one of those kits and do a test. Then you'll know for sure what's missing and the folks at the farm supply store or garden store can help you get the right stuff to add to the soil. I had to add blood and bone meal and calcium to mine.

hi dymar711 - I empathize with you, I live in old bridge and have the same problem, however, I bought soil from home depot and they are doing fine. Part of my garden was extremely sandy, took out as much I could, and you may find this kinda funny but............what exactly was when I removed the sand I layered my garden with newspaper :-) the entire garden 6X15 then I put the soil, some people laugh at first, but not anymore, my garden is growing like crazy lots of beans, actually so far I've reaped lettuce,beans, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, garlic, onions, orka, cucumbers, thyme, parsley, chives etc my eggplant died because of those pesky black jumping beetles (I re-plant a few in pots on my deck) GOOD LUCK and let know if it helps, I know it will

I recommend you move this question to the Soil and Composting Forum. There's a guru there named "Tapla" who is giving us a free education on everything having to do with container and garden soils.

And, I've just learned that sandy soil is not necessarily a bad thing.

Come on over and post your question there.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/soil/all/

As far as tomatoes go, you're right - blossom end rot (BER) is a common problem that's due to a calcium deficiency.
Most often, blossom end rot affects tomatoes when there's inconsistent watering, root damage, excessive temperatures, or too much nitrogen or salts in the soil.
BER is easily corrected for tomatoes by applying calcium chloride. In a few weeks, the new tomatoes that are ripening on your plants should be BER-free.

You can learn more here:
http://www.tomatodirt.com/blossom-end-rot.html
Good luck!

hi i am in NY this is my first year trying to grow zucchini and watermelon. I have big leaves and get flowers but no fruit - any thing wrong?

IAMFLOWER - The first flowers on zucchini and watermelon are males. These will begin to attract the bees you will need to pollinate the female flowers, which will appear later.

Look where the flower attaches to the stem - in male flowers, there is no "bump" - in female flowers there is a little "bump" - when the female flower is pollinated, the "bump" will grow into a zucchini or watermelon. If the flower is NOT pollinated, the little bump will turn yellow and drop off.

If bees are not visiting your garden, try putting up some "Mason Bee" hives. This is what I have done. The little native bees and bumble bees are what pollinate most of my own garden vegetables. I rarely see a honeybee :( - which saddens me, because I used to be a beekeeper.

Where do you get mason bee hi ves?

behillman - I purchased mine from The National Gardening Association, but there are other sources

http://search.store.yahoo.net/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=nga-gardenshop&query=bees&.autodone=http://nga-gardenshop.stores.yahoo.net/nsearch.html

If you are handy with a drill, you can also make your own. The holes have to be precise. If the holes are too big, you will only get male bees, and they don't do any work. Only females gather pollen.

You can purchase replacement tubes here:

http://www.territorialseed.com/product/33/176

http://nga-gardenshop.stores.yahoo.net/15-2304.html

Do these bees make honey?