Plants are still not as green as they should be. Things are looking better , new growth is light green. Old growth is still what I would call yellow. I know that I have nutes in the soil. I have compost from "Rons Organics" and a mixture organic nutes I have been feeding with. I have checked my PH with a liquid soil tester, but going to recheck in a different area today and see what pops up.

Gypsum will help with tomato plants and will lower the PH, but you need to shoot for a general PH of 7 for most plants, because when you fertilize that's going to change it again...DON'T use vinegar or you'll change it so fast you'll kill most plants...

New growth is always a lighter green...

lighter green is also a sign of nitrogen depletion. I know this because I am experiencing it. Trying to figure out how to raise it.

lighter green is also a sign of nitrogen depletion. I know this because I am experiencing it. Trying to figure out how to raise it.

It may be coincidence but, I buried a fish carcass under my 'maters a couple weeks ago and they have started to green up nicely.

I am going to get a soil test done by a lab to be sure. I have rechecked with the liquid testers and seem to be getting different readings. The first is 7.5 and the second seems to be 8.5. I did get the soil tested last year and added what the lab said I needed. This season I added about 50% compost, so its 50% compost and 50 % last years soil. I also read that compost would be best to bring ph down to nuetral but that woul take time. I have to get the soil tested to be sure. The yellowing that I am claiming could also be from the plants that I got were raised in high nitrogen and 2 weeks later after planting the high nitrogen has been used up and the organinc levels are not that great.

Whats the best way to raise ph the organic way? Mine seems to be in the 5.5 to 6.5 range

I have a lime and lemon bush, both loaded with new fruit on them. Just noticed some lil green worms starting to munch on the leaves.

What should I nuke them with??

#1 does anyone dump lawn clippings in your garden

You take a big chance of introducing grass and weed seeds that way. If you're cutting short enough to eliminate any seeds it might be ok but your best bet is to compost your clippings. The heat should kill any undesireables.

#2 i have clay for soil..i have dumped mushroom compost and pro mix 40-40-20 and mixed it in but still have too much clay what would you add to help with clumping and drainage,i have spent alot of money on dirt and still need more even with all the good dirt i still cant grow radishes onions or carrots

You'd probably do better looking into raised beds (not necessarily the "frame" type. You could use a harrower to make your rows several inches taller than the surrounding soil). From what I've heard , carrots like a really deep bed but if you're having trouble with radishes you might want to get a soil test kit. Somethin' ain't right.

#3 how tall do you let your tomatos get before trimming

Never trimmed a tomato plant.

thanks siberman,i have had 8ft tall tomato plants so i have decided to trim them at 5ft this year

You probably have indeterminate (vining plants like cherry tomatoes ) that keep growing / setting fruit throughout their life cycle. Determinate plants usually grow up to a certain size and produce their fruit all at once.

Wondering what good it does to trim them (anybody) ? Does it help the fruit reach a larger size more quickly or are you just pruning to keep the plants under control ?

Wondering what good it does to trim them (anybody) ? Does it help the fruit reach a larger size more quickly or are you just pruning to keep the plants under control ?

I'm 6'1" so 8' plants aren't a problem. I can see where making the plants bush out more could be helpful, though. Do the side branches set as much fruit as the upper ones ?

anyone know what these are?