HELP

I have written a few times and feel like I am pestering the experienced gardeners. My garden is not doing so well. I know it is incredibly hot but I am keeping it watered. One zucchini plant looked like it was being eaten, so I pulled it up. The other one is growing like crazy but is starting to turn brown on the leaves. I have planted okra and crowder peas, which seem to be growing. The vines for the crowder peas are tall but no pods or anything. The okra stems are about five inches high. How fast should they be growing? My two little tomato plants are getting taller but have so sign of producing any fruit. I used some "Miracle Grow" as a fertilizer and the plants rallied for bit. How often can I use that stuff?

Thanks for any and all help you can give.

Allyson

For most veggie plants, you don't want to use a fertilizer high in nitrogen. It will cause the plant to put on lots of green growth but very little fruit (the exception for nitrogen would be things like lettuce, spinach, etc.) There is a fertilizer made especially for tomatoes and other fruiting plants (I use one put out by Pennington) that is 9-12-12). It gives the plants just enough nitrogen to put on the green growth they need but it's heavier on the phosphate and potash to help the plants produce a stronger root system and more fruit. The zucchini could just be suffering from the heat. My squash and zucchini usually pretty much shut down when it gets real hot (tomatoes too). Keep the tomatoes well watered and they will begin putting on fruit again once the weather begins to cool down a bit. Okra and crowders should be able to handle the heat, just keep them watered. In case you don't know, okra will keep producing until frost kills it. And don't feel like you're pestering anyone here. That's one of the reasons for this site--to help each other out. I'm sure there will be others who will come along with their own answers and they will cover some things I didn't think about. Good luck.

Allyson, you're in an area where summer growing is tough. I lived in Palm Beach County for years, and finally gave up on everything but cherry tomatoes :). It isn't that it can;t be done, it most definitely can, but Florida has it's own rules. You need to plant very early, and sometimes it isn;t easy to find what you need at the right time to do that. The bonus is that you can pretty much grow _something_ all year round, if you time it right. Depending on what type of tomato you have, they may not set fruit in the heat you have. If you can keep them alive until fall, you may get some production. I never got much from the summer squash, but don't know if it was fungus, insect damage, or heat. Your okra and crowder peas should do fine if watered, I don't know when you planted, so tough to judge where they should be, growthwise.
I'm not sure how much access you have to the forums as a non-subscriber, are you able to search for anything?
NatureLover is right, ask away. Anyone who comes here knows that the posters are "beginners", so it's not a problem. You know the old adage, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask....:)

Cant help you on this occasion as I am in UK and my growing conditions are the complete opposite to yours, but the others with more experience of your type of heat conditions are bound to be able to help you out, sometimes we just cant grow all the things we would like due to some trouble or another, but go along to your library or book store to read up on what veg, when and how to plant them should give you some hints and tips for future worries you may find, for me, I have to grow tomatoes, cucumbers etc under glass in a greenhouse, so dont think you have the monopoly on veg growing problems, ha, ha, ha, good luck anyway, dont give up as there will be things you can grow that maybe you never even thought about trying. WeeNel.

Thank you for your help. I have focused on the okra and crowder peas for now. I do think the heat is just too much for the plants. The tomato plants are still alive and I will try to keep them alive and see what they can do when the temperatures get a bit cooler. Is it possible to grow potatoes?

Also, maybe in the fall, I could grow zucchini and some lettuce. I don't know how to find what will grow here, other than online sources.

I will keep you posted on what does actually grow. The crowder peas were planted in May and I restarted the okra when the plants were moved down here. So, say June for the okra. Both are growing I just have no idea when they would produce anything.

Have a great weekend,

Ally

Okra will just keep growing taller and producing pods all the way till it gets knocked back by a frost. I don't know how cool your winters are but I wait till fall to grow things like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, greens, lettuce, really, just any of the cool weather crops. You can also winter over carrots. They actually do better for me during the winter when weed competition isn't as fierce as it is in the summer. See, you're not pestering us--we like being able to help less experienced gardeners!

Allyson, zucchini could be done now, if you can water a LOT :). I only had luck with them in containers, but they were very successful that way, if watered daily (and sometimes twice). One per 5 gallon or more (the bigger the better) is plenty, they get BIG! And tend to be very, very productive.....

Thanks Catmad! I really want to have some zucchini. I will plant some this week and water it a lot!

Allyson

I had three green beans today and two crowder pea pods!!!! Hooray!

Every county in the US has an Agricultural Extension Office that is supported by a major state university in your state. Check in the phone book for the number.

They have great tips and advice that relates to your exact area,and are a priceless resource. They can tell you what grows well in your area, and when to plant it.

We can help somewhat heer at DG, and if we live close, we can help alot. The Extension Office can pinpoint problems and fixes, and saves tons of anguish.