I just posted a question tomatoes in the Pacific Northwest. I was
wondering why my tomatoes had such a problem growing this year.

I try to grow a garden with mostly vegetables up here. The last several
years we've been able to can, freeze and dry most of our produce and it
lasts most of the winter. This year has been different - in addition to
our tomato problem we've also had a reduced yield in corn, beans,
peppers, lettuce, etc. Our potato crop has been 'as ever' - excellent
and our fruit trees have had a good year.

I'd like to get feedback from any local growers - is it my soil or the
weather or....!!!!!!?????? I consider myself 'somewhat' informed but
this year has left me puzzled...I'm thinking of ordering new seeds from
this next years cataloges and new methods of gardening.

Again, ANY information will be very much appreciated. This newsgroup has
been a 'life-send' in the past with information I couldn't find in any
books.

Thanks again.

Mark

Mark wrote:

I just posted a question tomatoes in the Pacific Northwest. I was
wondering why my tomatoes had such a problem growing this year.

I try to grow a garden with mostly vegetables up here. The last several
years we've been able to can, freeze and dry most of our produce and it
lasts most of the winter. This year has been different - in addition to
our tomato problem we've also had a reduced yield in corn, beans,
peppers, lettuce, etc. Our potato crop has been 'as ever' - excellent
and our fruit trees have had a good year.

I replied to your first post. My pole beans were awesome this year. I
canned 21 - 500 ml jars, froze several lg ziploc bags, gave many more
away. If I see any more beans for the next month I'll be tempted to
toss them! My sweet peppers were a disaster but the various hot peppers
did well. I didn't plant corn and I dug the potatoes when still small.
It was the absolute worse year for any kind of lettuce! Most of my
herbs did quite well.


I'd like to get feedback from any local growers - is it my soil or the
weather or....!!!!!!?????? I consider myself 'somewhat' informed but
this year has left me puzzled...I'm thinking of ordering new seeds from
this next years cataloges and new methods of gardening.

I use the square foot method to maximize my production in raised beds.
I really like it. I think the weather was the problem this year.


Again, ANY information will be very much appreciated. This newsgroup has
been a 'life-send' in the past with information I couldn't find in any
books.

Thanks again.

Mark

all of this is consistent with the soil pH having become lower.

all of this is consistent with the soil pH having become lower.