In article ,
Hobo wrote:

This has been an excellent example of a 'high-jacked'
thread. What about Sarah and her tomato problem? There has
been all kinds of advice for the driveway problems and next
to nothing to help out Sarah.

Hobo

Nod of the hat to Ann who out of the kindness of her heart usually keeps
us on track. Even so, there have been 4 responders to Sarah's question:

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

This was posted in rec.gardens.edible and separately in rec.gardens.
Between the two sites, Sara as received 13 responses to her question.
The thread moves on but the question has been addressed.

The Lower limbs of my tomatoes aren't doing so well either but then they
are 3'+ tall and have bush beans blocking their sunlight at lower
levels. I have grown (and am growing, I hope) tomatoes in areas that
only have 3-4 hours of Sun/day. Granted some need more Sun than others.

Kay suggested removing one plant and repotting it with commercial
potting soil in a 5 gallon container to see if there was an improvement
in the plants growth.

Sara has not been ignored. Thank you for caring Hobo.
--
Billy
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/

Billy Rose wrote:

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.


Covering individual plants doesn't prevent the defolient from
penetrating the soil. Every time you water or it rains the round up
perimeter expands.


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).

The sun wasn't the major culprit.

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.


You missed that spot with the roundup... you need better aim.


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?

See above. duh

I can't believe any sane person would use round up anywhere near any
kind of garden plants. It'll be at least two years before the roundup
in the soil fully breaks down. I'd move the garden.

In article . com,
Sheldon wrote:


I can't believe any sane person would use round up anywhere near any
kind of garden plants. It'll be at least two years before the roundup
in the soil fully breaks down. I'd move the garden.

Some people don't know better. I'm sure she does now. ;-)

You are not supposed to use Round Up anywhere near edible garden plants
anyway. It's on the bottle iirc?

It's also only supposed to kill plants who's leaves come in contact with
it. Soil distribution is not supposed to affect other plants growth...

but who trusts Monsanto?
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

On Jul 9, 11:13?am, Omelet wrote:
In article . com,

Sheldon wrote:

I can't believe any sane person would use round up anywhere near any
kind of garden plants. It'll be at least two years before the roundup
in the soil fully breaks down. I'd move the garden.

Some people don't know better. I'm sure she does now. ;-)

You are not supposed to use Round Up anywhere near edible garden plants
anyway. It's on the bottle iirc?

It's also only supposed to kill plants who's leaves come in contact with
it. Soil distribution is not supposed to affect other plants growth...

but who trusts Monsanto?

Roundup is systemic, it's primarilly applied to foilage but once in
the soil it is taken up by plant roots as well. These kind of
defolients need to be applied very carefully, it's real easy to have
over-spray of 50, 100 feet, and more. Even when the treated plants
die the defoliant is still in the dead plant and will remain potent
long after the plant is composted and its dust blows wherever. I used
to use roundup on my gravel driveway and around building foundations,
but no more, it also poisons the animals that eat the vegetation, the
insects, and even walk there. I'd rather live with some weeds...
those that encroach on my gardens I pull up by hand, use mulch, and
cultivate... I love my new Mantis.

In article om,
says...
Roundup is systemic, it's primarilly applied to foilage but once in
the soil it is taken up by plant roots as well. These kind of
defolients need to be applied very carefully, it's real easy to have
over-spray of 50, 100 feet, and more. Even when the treated plants
die the defoliant is still in the dead plant and will remain potent
long after the plant is composted and its dust blows wherever. I used
to use roundup on my gravel driveway and around building foundations,
but no more, it also poisons the animals that eat the vegetation, the
insects, and even walk there. I'd rather live with some weeds...
those that encroach on my gardens I pull up by hand, use mulch, and
cultivate...

I grow my veggies in large buckets about 2' in diameter and 2' tall that
are in a mulched area, I spray the mulch monthly with weed killer, but
the plants are isolated from the ground by the buckets... This has
worked well for us, we can even move them as needed. Now if I could just
keep the dogs from picking the green tomato's before they ripen.

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(remove 999 for proper email address)

In article ,
Leythos wrote:

In article om,
says...
Roundup is systemic, it's primarilly applied to foilage but once in
the soil it is taken up by plant roots as well. These kind of
defolients need to be applied very carefully, it's real easy to have
over-spray of 50, 100 feet, and more. Even when the treated plants
die the defoliant is still in the dead plant and will remain potent
long after the plant is composted and its dust blows wherever. I used
to use roundup on my gravel driveway and around building foundations,
but no more, it also poisons the animals that eat the vegetation, the
insects, and even walk there. I'd rather live with some weeds...
those that encroach on my gardens I pull up by hand, use mulch, and
cultivate...

I grow my veggies in large buckets about 2' in diameter and 2' tall that
are in a mulched area, I spray the mulch monthly with weed killer, but
the plants are isolated from the ground by the buckets... This has
worked well for us, we can even move them as needed. Now if I could just
keep the dogs from picking the green tomato's before they ripen.

Hot wire.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

Leythos expounded:

I spray the mulch monthly with weed killer

I'd just stir the mulch with a scuffle hoe or something. Works just
as well and won't poison me.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

["Followup-To:" header set to rec.gardens.]
(breathes). Killed grass around with roundup (had bermuda reaching
into garden). Covered all plants with plastic bags first.


Covering individual plants doesn't prevent the defolient from
penetrating the soil. Every time you water or it rains the round up

1) Glyphosate is not a defoliant.

2) Glyphosate is inactivated by binding with soil particles, particularly
clays and organics. Read the section on "environmental fate"
http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/dieno
chlor-glyphosate/glyphosate-ext.html OR
http://tinyurl.com/yvu7sp

Plants accidentally sprayed with glyphosate can be salvaged if you dump
muddy water on them immediately.

IMO, glyphosate is unlikely to be the cause of the issues here. I still
want to know soil pH, how far down the water is getting into the soil,
and temperatures. Much more likely candidates.

Kay