Peat moss is quite acidic. I add it to the area around my blue berries to
bring the pH down. If the beds were too acidic, this could be the reason for
the "poor performance". Check the pH of your beds and add lime if necessary.
It takes awhile for the lime to affect the pH so amending the fall before is
the best time to add the lime so it can work over the winter.
Hope this helps.
LJ

"~patches~" wrote in message
...
This is my second season using raised vegetable beds. I started out
with top soil mixed with peat moss and compost. Last winter I covered
each bed with straw then burnt it off in the spring upon the advice of
an old farmer friend. The tomatoes in one of the beds didn't do as well
as the others and the green peppers were poor performers. I'm thinking
I need to fortify the soil but am not sure what to add. I was thinking
manure and possibly compost then thought adding more peat moss wouldn't
be a bad idea. Any ideas on this? When would be the best time to add
the fortifiers - spring or fall?