Dead birds don't pick at anything.

I have faith that the dog will keep them away if need be, if not I will take care of them,lol. I have birds in the garden all year long. The only problems I ever had from birds was in the dead heat of summer when they are looking for water. Most times I have seen them they were pecking at the plants but they were taking bugs. Birds picking peppers are some bad ars birds,lol, theres not much that will mess with peppers. Ill watch it and if it turns into a problem Ill move it away.

It was just bell peppers they were getting into, not jalapeños. My wife wanted to let them fully ripen and change colors on the vine, but had to start picking them green.

Tomatoes are really starting to look bad. After doing some research I believe the pH of my mix is too low due to the amount of peat I used. Although, the peas and peppers are looking good. So, what can I ammend my soil with? Also, would it be beneficial to add some chicken or cow poo compost as well as some fertilizer specific for tomatoes?

This is the first year for my raised beds so I'm sure it needs some tinkerin

I'm in the same boat, DH, and I'll bet it's for the same reason. I was actually going to add some fertilizer tonight around the tomato plants. I'll let you know how it goes.

I would suggest both of you add some gypsum to the soil...

DH, you may want to get a general fertilizer...Something along a 15-15-15 and add that as well to the soil...

Also, a little limestone would really be helpful for the tomatoes...

I'll try the gypsum, limestone and fertilizer.

Last year I grew a couple tomatoes in a pots with a generic soil and they didn't really take off until I dug a hole and slid a fish carcass underneath the plant....

I need help

Man , I have got a cutworm in the tomatoes. When do they feed , at night? I know the best way is to put a cut plastic cup at the base. What else can I do since I have a soaker hose running through the middle of each plant and will have to raise the soaker hose in order to put the cups. I am trying tostay organinc but If need be the chemicals will have to come out.....

Are you're talking about the cutworms or the tomato hornworm, they are different...

This is the hornworm...

Hornworm

This is the cutworm...

Cutworm

If it is the cutworm, I see them in the afternoon. If it's the hornworm, I see them in the morning...I kill them by knocking them off and stomping them...Or if I have my gloves on just squish them in my fingers...

No , its the cutworm. I had a branch cut day before yesterday and thought it was the kids that did it by accident. I just walked thought the garden and theres another on the same plant.
I read they do their dirty work at night....To control climbing and army cutworms, dust plants with Sevin according to label directions. Black cutworms are harder to control because they don’t climb on the leaves. The best way to protect plants against them is to create a barrier around the plant. You can cut out the bottom of a 6- or 8-ounce plastic cup and trim the top down so that all you have left is a ring about 3 inches tall. Slip it over the plant and push it an inch or so into the ground so that it is firmly fixed. The result is a little fence that protects the transplant from the worm.


I am going out there right now to dig that little critter up and take care of him......LOL

GOT EM!!!

Now I need to apply some chemical agent . If theres one there is room for others. I have sprayed the garden with Neem Oil and rotenone pyrethisis ( I think thats how its spelled) seven days ago. The label says to apply every seven days so today would be time to do it again. The problem is I dont see it working at all, didnt last year either. While I was digging for the cutworm I found a doo doo bug and a small milipede I guess its time for seven dust... I have introduced about 20 plants into my garden though in the last week

Need to find tobasco plants near Lewisville/Flower Mound area. Can anybody help.... Have tried Lowes/Home Depot and the local nurseries...no luck.
Thanks fellers....

If all else fails try the farmers market in downtown Dallas. While your there eat all the free samples also,lol.

Does anybody grow their tomatoes in the same place every year ? I usually do but last year they didn't perform very well. Soil was ok but we had a really wet summer. Think I ought to move 'em this year ?

Somebody hurry up and answer. I'm planting tomorrow.

My grandpa grew his in the same year every year. Technically it isn't supposed to be done thanks to disease and soil nutrients, but I bet you could get by with it, with close inspection for disease and adding some compost to the soil.

By the way, I wonder if that wood ash trick might work for the doodle-bugs.

I will grow mine in the same spot for no more than 3 years in a row. Then I rotate the whole garden...It's one of the reasons I have a map drawn out of where everything will go before I start planting...

Our tomatoes are planted in the same spot every year and they do well.

I don't remember ever planting them near corn...I do know according to that companion guide posted earlier in the thread, tomatoes are a bad companion for corn...

http://www.tinkersgardens.com/vegetables/companionplanting.asp