On Jul 6, 7:21 pm, Sarah wrote:
Hello....

I planted tomatoes in southern New Mexico. The ground had no previous
garden, looked OK. I tilled in organic compost to 10", lots of
compost. Planted several varieties, 15 plants, in a row. Automatic
watering with drip hose, ground covered by black plastic weed stopper
(breathes). Killed grass around with roundup (had bermuda reaching
into garden). Covered all plants with plastic bags first. Bags seemed
to make hot house and make tomatoes grow but Ieft them on 2 days and
it killed plants on one side of garden (more sun). Replaced those with
new plants. Put time release fetrilize on soil and soaked in when
first planted, have used liquid fertilizer two times since. Direct sun
5 - 6 hours a day, lots of indirect light (shade under tree)
otherwise.

Planted 1.5 months ago. All plants, old and new, at just sitting
there, no or very little increase in height...all except one plant on
the end away from new plants. This one is growing very well, lush,
getting taller. Others have green tops, lower limbs died some time
ago. The green tops look healthy but donig nothing, some scraggly.
Don't know why but get the feeling some of them are on their way to
dying, or maybe they just won't grow.

Why aren't they growing? Searched the web, I see lots of diseases, and
will try to look close at the plants when I return (on vacation for
few days).

Any advice would really be appreciated. I only grew tomatoes once
before, in New Jersey, and they were a spectacular success with little
effort.

Thanks very much,
Sarah


Some thoughts:
1. You added compost and the plants have been in the ground for 6
weeks
and you have added fertilizer 3 times....why? With all that
compost there
should be no need for fert. so soon. (I never fertilize tomatoes)
2. You mentioned a nearby tree,,,,, what kind? Any type of Walnut?
Walnut trees are harmful to tomatoes.
3. Water...with a drip system.... how much, how often ? are they
getting
enough water? Are the emitters all working correctly? Is the
water
penetrating deeply into the soil? Check it out by digging down to
see
what depth its getting to. Maybe the one plant on the end is
getting
all the water.
4. Roundup residue still in soil? I have never used Roundup (and never
will)
so I am just guessing on this one.

Good luck Sarah
Emilie
NorCal